Which is exactly what Ferguson did.

As Sunderland‘s supporters did the ‘Poznan’, the trademark dance adopted by City after a visit from the Polish side, where they turn their backs to the game and put their arms around the shoulders of the fans next to them, a fierce desire for revenge burned within the Scot.

It reminded him of the aftermath of losing at Liverpool in 1992, a result which confirmed Leeds as champions at United’s expense, when young players in his squad were taunted.

The message he delivered was similar.

“When we lost the league to Leeds United in 1992, I said to [Ryan] Giggs and the boys, you remember this day,” Ferguson revealed at an awards dinner the day after the Sunderland trip.

“That’s exactly what I said to the players yesterday. Those Sunderland fans that were cheering for City, remember the day. We won’t forget that I’m telling you.”

The experience was crushing.

Premier League chairman Dave Richards was not aware of how the situation had changed so dramatically.

Having left his seat at full-time for what he thought was going to be a trophy presentation, Richards congratulated a senior United official as he made his way through the stadium towards the tunnel area, only to be informed his services would not be required.

Another senior United official switched his phone off on the lonely drive home and kept it off when he arrived back. He wasn’t in the mood to talk.

United’s players watched the City game on their way back to Manchester. The conspiracy theories soon started.

Why, after Edin Dzeko’s equaliser, did a QPR side with a number of former City players in their ranks, put the ball straight out of play near the home goalline from the restart?

This ignores the fact that a full minute later, 10-man QPR had a throw-in just inside the City half, which lone striker Jay Bothroyd challenged for, Joleon Lescott won and Nigel de Jong set off on the run that ended with one of the all-time most memorable Premier League goals.

“That should have been looked into,” said Wayne Rooney, half-jokingly during an appearance on the Overlap in April 2025.