Sir Alex Ferguson on the end of most damning commentary line of the season when City thrashed Man Utd

Sir Alex Ferguson was on the receiving end of the most damning commentary line this season as Manchester City demolished Manchester United 6-3.

Back in October Erling Haaland and Phil Foden scored hat-ticks as City subjected their rivals to a derby day thrashing.

It was a scoreline that would have been implausible 15 years earlier when City were languishing in United’s shadow.

Indeed, in 2009 Ferguson was asked in a press conference whether United would ever go into a Manchester derby as underdogs. For 15 tense seconds, the Scot eyed his inquisitor, before clambering from his seat.

"What time is it? I think it is time for me to leave," he said. Ferguson then infamously added: “Not in my lifetime”.

Of course, Ferguson’s words have since come back to haunt him.

Indeed, Match of the Day’s Guy Mowbray referenced Ferguson’s historic comments during October’s derby defeat, and it is arguably the best piece of commentary of the 2022-23 Premier League campaign.

Mowbray’s Sir Alex Ferguson commentary

United fans started pouring out of the Etihad after City took a 4-0 lead in October's Manchester derby.

Meanwhile, as the camera located a glum-looking Ferguson sitting in the stands, Mowbray delivered one of the season’s most damning pieces of commentary.

The BBC commentator said: “Alex Ferguson was asked in 2009 if City could ever go into a derby as favourites. He said, ‘Not in my lifetime’, now it’s every time.”

United have not won a Premier League in over a decade. Meanwhile their ‘noisy neighbours’ have claimed five in the last six seasons under the management of Pep Guardiola.

Moreover, City have been the dominant force in the derbies in recent times. Having enjoyed a 6-3 spanking of United earlier this campaign, last season City did the double over United, including a 4-1 drubbing at the Etihad.

Guardiola’s men are also on the cusp of repeating Ferguson’s greatest achievement at United - a treble. Having already wrapped up the Premier League, City take on United next Saturday in the FA Cup final.

A week later they travel to Istanbul to compete in the Champions League final, where they will go toe-to-toe with Inter.

Featured Image Credit: Alamy/BBC

Topics: Football, Premier League, Manchester United, Manchester City, Sir Alex Ferguson

Chris Byfield

Sport journalist with experience writing on football, rugby, boxing and the Olympics. I'm also a Crystal Palace fan. Please don't hold this against me.