Best airs his views on Arsenal rivalry
Manchester United legend George Best has revealed his disdain for the perpetrators of the food fight which took place at Old Trafford last weekend after the highly-charged game with Arsenal.
Emotions were high after Manchester United’s 2-0 victory ended Arsenal’s 49-match unbeaten run and both teams were involved in a bust-up in the tunnel in which Sir Alex Ferguson had food thrown at him by an unidentified member of the Arsenal squad.
The row has rumbled on and further details of Ferguson’s drenching have emerged with pizza and soup being revealed as the foodstuffs which hit the Manchester United boss, forcing him to change his clothes before he could be interviewed on camera.
However, Best dismissed the antics as “childish” and insisted his generation would have dealt with the situation in a very different manner.
He told the Manchester Evening News: “That’s what children do – throw food.
“That’s not fighting.
“We were real men. We’d have chinned them.
“But the rivalry is so intense that it’s bound to boil over.”
Best believes that, although Manchester United are capable of winning the title, it will be Arsenal who will once again emerge as Premiership champions and contends that their ability to consistently name the same side is a huge advantage for the Londoners.
“I think United can win the title but I don’t think they will,” he said.
“They have come from behind before but Arsenal are the red-hot favourites.
“My advice to United would be to play a settled team.
“Every week there’s chopping and changing to keep everyone happy, but with Arsenal you could pick their side every week.”
The 58-year-old, perhaps surprisingly given his traditional views on the game, does not frown upon the potential takeover by American Michael Glazer.
Glazer owns 28.11% of the Old Trafford club but the plc have now broken off negotiations with the owner of the NFL’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers claiming it was not in the best interests of the club due to the massive debt it would incur - although he could still attempt a takeover.
Best said: “As long as Malcolm Glazer does not interfere with the running of the team, then it shouldn’t matter who runs the club as long as he lets the manager get on with it.
“I don’t think he’s going to be coaching the first team.
“Football is a big business – you can’t get away from it.
“But you have to separate that side from the playing.
“It shouldn’t be a problem but perhaps we don’t want Americans teaching us to suck eggs.”
