''I started well. For the first six, seven, maybe eight games I did well,'' Butt told The Guardian. ''Then I started getting little niggles in my hamstrings. I'm not making excuses but I was playing not fully fit for about six weeks.
''Everyone could see that. I'd sum it up; one part played bad, one part played well, one part really bad. But I felt like I was the scapegoat for the fans that day. There were a lot of lies spoken, like how I snubbed the fans, which is a lie.
''I didn't; I just felt embarrassed about getting beat 4-1 off my old team and didn't feel like doing a lap of honour. Then some individuals said I was seen walking though the press room with Sir Alex Ferguson, his arms around me, laughing and joking. Which is a lie. I can assure there was no laughing. Then I heard I didn't travel home with the team. Which is a lie.
''In a way I can understand the Newcastle fans because, if they hear things like that, see me not playing well - and I hold my hand up to that - they put two and two together. I don't blame Newcastle fans for that.''