Ryan Giggs was brutally thrown into the firing line of one of Sir Alex Ferguson’s infamous dressing downs by his Manchester United team-mate
Ryan Giggs left Sir Alex Ferguson furious(Image: Getty Images)
Ryan Giggs was once thrown under the bus by former Manchester United team-mate Nani during one of Sir Alex Ferguson‘s dressing-room tirades.
Ex-United winger Nani landed himself in trouble with the fearsome Scottish manager in 2010 after a 2-2 draw at Fulham. United were leading 2-1 at Craven Cottage in the August fixture when they were handed a penalty in the 86th minute following a handball by Damien Duff.
Rather than regular penalty taker Giggs stepping up, Nani took responsibility and saw his effort denied by David Stockdale.
To make matters worse, Fulham went on to equalise in the 89th minute thanks to Brede Hangeland’s header, meaning United headed back to Manchester having dropped two points.
That resulted in an awkward journey home for Nani as he had to drive Sir Alex home afterwards, though not before deflecting the hair-dryer treatment onto Giggs, who celebrates his 52nd birthday this Saturday.
Nani missed his crucial penalty against Fulham(Image: Phil Cole/Getty Images)
Nani previously explained on the UTD Podcast: “[Ferguson] was my neighbour and we used to go to London by train. His wife or his family used to leave him in the train station so on the way back he had no driver to take him so he was looking for someone who lives close to him to give him a ride.
“So I said, ‘OK boss, I’ll take you home!’ But that day, it’s so funny, believe me! The day I took him home was after a game against Fulham away, and I was on the bench.
“I was playing unbelievable with a lot of confidence. We won a penalty and it was Ryan Giggs who usually took the penalties. I felt confident and Giggs didn’t say anything. I took the penalty and I missed! The penalty should have made it 3-2.
“We are going back home that day and I say, ‘Boss, I can take you home’. I drove him back home and he didn’t talk to me in the car! In the dressing room he killed me! He said, ‘Nani, who do you think you are?'”
Nani was berated by Sir Alex in the dressing room(Image: Getty Images)
The Portuguese midfielder attempted to deflect the blame onto veteran team-mate Giggs. That then brought the Welshman into the firing line as Ferguson berated both of them.
Nani continued: “‘Who gave you permission to take the penalty?! Ryan!’ And then he killed Ryan Giggs, because he said, ‘Ryan, why did you let him take the penalty!’
“Ryan said, ‘He grabbed the ball and I let him.’ Oh my god, that day was incredible. I took him home and I feel very uncomfortable driving home.”
Despite many other instances of delivering harsh discipline, Ferguson held both players in high regard, with the iconic boss continuing to praise them in recent years and even reuniting with Nani.