Moran: Fergie’s ‘punch drunk’ remark degrading

Kevin Moran has admitted Alex Ferguson’s use of the phrase ‘punch drunk’ to describe the former Manchester United defender as degrading in his autobiography.

“When you read the contest in which punch drunk is used, my old boss is actually paying me a back-handed compliment,” he wrote in his Sunday World column yesterday.

“He was saying in the 18 months when I was a Manchester United player and he was the manager I was frequently out of action because I’d taken a bang on the head when going in for a challenge with no thought to my own safety.

“But why didn’t he just say that? Not use a phrase that will attract attention and then be explained away a few sentences later.”

He added: “Sadly there’s too much of that in the book, too much of the great man having a go, and, from his point of view, settling scores with players who served him loyally and well.”