Jonny Evans has revealed the important message Sir Alex Ferguson shared with him after Manchester United’s infamous 6-1 defeat to Manchester City at Old Trafford.
Former Manchester City striker Mario Balotelli opened the scoring for Roberto Mancini’s men in the first half at Old Trafford in the 2011 Premier League clash.
However, things would take an ugly turn for Manchester United after former referee Mark Clattenburg sent off Jonny Evans for his challenge on Mario Balotelli.
Mark Clattenburg deemed that Jonny Evans, who received his United debut under Sir Alex Ferguson, had denied Balotelli a clear goalscoring opportunity in the match.
Balotelli went on to complete his brace in the second half before City legend Sergio Aguero put Mancini’s men 3-1 up against Ferguson’s United side.
Darren Fletcher pulled one back for United in the 81st minute, but Edin Dzeko came off the bench for City and scored for his side in the 89th minute.
Further misery was piled on for ex-United manager Ferguson after City legend David Silva struck in injury time before Edin Dzeko completed his brace in the 6-1 win.
Evans on ‘dark day’ for Man Utd
Manchester United would ultimately miss out on the Premier League title in the 2011-12 season to crosstown rivals Manchester City.
City famously snatched the title away from United after Sergio Aguero scored a late winner on the final day of the season against Queens Park Rangers in 2012.
Speaking on the defeat to City in the derby, Jonny Evans admitted that it was a “really bad moment” in Sir Alex Ferguson’s legendary managerial career at United.
“It was a dark day for everyone involved,” he told the UTD Podcast.
“I actually thought I had been playing quite well in the game up until half-time.
“It was quite early on in the second half when I pulled Balotelli down. In the changing rooms, we have got the TV on and I am sitting watching the goals go in and what do you even think in that moment?
“The boss came in and it was a really bad moment for him in his managerial career as well but he never took anything out on me.”
Ferguson’s message to Evans
Ferguson’s shortcomings with the Premier League title in 2012 were put behind him after he captured the trophy in the following season.
The 82-year-old Scotsman convincingly beat City to the Premier League title in 2013 before Ferguson bowed out of Old Trafford as United manager for the final time.
Evans, who previously revealed Ferguson’s “big belief” about United, said that the iconic Scot’s message to him after the derby defeat in 2011 “always stuck” with him.
“I think as a collective on that day, with the team we had on the pitch with a lot of experience, we could have handled that better,” he continued.
“I felt a huge responsibility for that. The only thing the boss ever said to me was when Balotelli went through, ‘Next time, trust your ‘keeper,’ and it is something that always stuck with me because it is true.
“How many times do you see centre-forwards go one-on-one with the goalkeeper and the ‘keeper saves it or he misses?”
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