Derby demolition still pains Fergie

ALEX FERGUSON has admitted it is still “painful to think” about Manchester United’s derby-day humiliation at Old Trafford 11 days ago.

United made their first appearance on home soil since that 6-1 slaughter by Manchester City against Romanian minnows Otelul Galati in the Champions League last night.

In his programme notes ahead of the game, Ferguson attempted to put the defeat into some context.

But he accepts the pain is still acute.

“It’s painful even to think about it but I don’t want the players to forget it totally because it must serve as a reminder of the necessity of keeping our concentration levels high and thinking all the time,’’ Ferguson said.

“The score against us only reached such high proportions because of our own stupidity.

“The game was a lost cause when City went three up. A man down following the dismissal of Jonny Evans, we should have contained the game. Instead, we continued, in our usual cavalier way to bomb into attack.

“You have to be sensible though and we left hardly anyone minding the shop, allowing City to pick us off with ease.

“It was a recipe for disaster. City just didn’t have to work for their last three goals, but the fact is we were left with an embarrassing scoreline, the butt of many a joke I know.”

Ferguson does not want to dwell on the failure though.

United have subsequently recorded back-to-back wins — at Aldershot and Everton — without conceding a goal. And the Scot is sure good will eventually emerge from the wretched.

“There is no progress in life without failure,” he said.

“For one thing, it means you think about how you got to the top in the first place.

“It’s another day in our history, one that will be talked about for a long time to come.

“We have certainly had better days, but there is no time for tears.

“Our players are eager not to make that kind of mistake again, or at least not for a very long time.”