Paul Scholes tries to recall pizzagate on it's 10 anniversary - but Ashley Cole remembers it best.
It's ten years to the day since an unknown Arsenal player (believed to be Cesc Fabregas) assaulted the then Manchester United manager with a pizza. Ferguson never caught who it was, admitting in his autobiography that he had no idea who tossed the mozzarella adorned grenade in his direction.
Fergie was partly preoccupied with the sight of Arsene Wenger striding towards him with his fists raised. Ferguson got wind that Wenger was lambasting United's tactics and accused Van Nistelrooy of cheating. Fergie confronted Wenger and told him to 'leave my player alone.'
He was incensed at losing the game. That was the reason for his combative behaviour. 'You should attend to your own players', I told him. He was livid. His fists were clenched. I was in control, I knew it.
Paul Scholes sheds no more light on the topic in his latest column, but he does acknowledge the momentous event.
It was only when the mêlée in the Old Trafford tunnel had cleared 10 years ago today, and the Arsenal players had gone back to their dressing room, that I noticed Sir Alex Ferguson’s shirt and suit was covered in part of the post-match food. As to who did it, I am afraid I would have to say that I never saw the culprit.
That was the night we ended Arsenal’s 49-game unbeaten run and the “Invincibles” were invincible no more. They couldn’t handle losing and that was why it blew up in the tunnel. I say that they could not handle it partly as a compliment, because they were such a competitive team. They had pace, style, quality, strength – everything you need to be a title-winning side.
Ashley Cole's book is probably the most illuminating on the issue.
By the time we were walking down the extendable plastic tunnel everyone was having a go at each other. There were shouts of 'you cheats' and players were running into a jostling huddle where the narrow tunnel opens into a wider mouth. I was jammed in the middle. I heard the boss [Wenger] hammering Ferguson; incandescent French, verbally sparring with the bullish Scotsman.
This slice of pizza came flying over my head and hit Fergie straight in the mush. The slap echoed down the tunnel and everything stopped - the fighting, the yelling, everything. All eyes turned and all mouths gawped to see this pizza slip off that famous puce face and roll down his nice black suit.
"I thought Ferguson was going to explode but then he stormed off into the dressing room cursing and grunting, brushing the crumbs and stains off his collar. We all went back into the dressing room and fell about laughing. All I can say is that the culprit wasn't English or French, so that should narrow it down.
