Ferguson's 'We'd Love It' Rant!
Last updated : 09 March 2008 By Footy Mad - Editor
Referee Martin Atkinson 'broke the law' and rightly gave Portsmouth a penalty and sent off the Man Utd goalkeeper ... but the dummies were bouncing around Old Trafford like bouncy castles.
Sir Alex Ferguson was NOT a happy man! He goaded Kevin Keegan into that "we'd LOVE it" spat back in 1996, and this had the whole nation gobsmacked as Fergie looked as though he was going to have a heart attack.
Atkinson took the brunt of his anger, but his boss Keith Hackett took a tongue lashing as Manchester United's treble dream went up in smoke.
Ferguson felt United had a blatant penalty denied when Cristiano Ronaldo was blocked by Sylvain Distin.
Ferguson: "It's absolutely ridiculous.
"I cannot explain it. Managers get sacked because of things like that and he's going to referee a game next week.
"He (Hackett) is not doing his job properly and he needs to be assessed.
"I'm assessed as a manager, players are assessed, referees should be assessed properly by the right people. That performance today should not be accepted by our game.
"The referee today was unbelievable. After five minutes, there had been three fouls - but he didn't give any cards.
"Then I do not get the penalty. It's very disappointing.
"He [Distin] didn't try to take the ball; he came straight to me, and when this happens it's difficult to play football. It's a joke.
"This is the best league in the world. But I'm scared sometimes because some players do unbelievable fouls, and the referee protects the defender - not the skilled players.
"I'm thinking a lot about changing my game, because this happens. They don't give penalties, don't give yellows, don't give reds - it's difficult to play like that."