Steve Bruce Bites His Lip to Keep Sir Alex Ferguson Sweet

Filed under: Manchester United, Sunderland, Premier League, Football

When you are accused of reneging on an offer, moving the goalposts and leaving one of your main summer transfer targets in limbo, what should you do? Well, if those allegations are, you feel, unjustified, then surely you come out fighting with a verbal riposte to put the record straight.

If, however, you are Steve Bruce, and Sir Alex Ferguson is the one pointing the finger at you for some rather sharp practice, then say nothing, refuse to defend yourself in public and allow everyone to assume your guilt. Don't want to upset Sir Alex, do we, Steve?

So much for the vitriolic response to the Scot's broadside on the Wearside club's failed move for Darron Gibson, delivered from Manchester United's training base in the United States. Here's Bruce's response to the club's official website.

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In private he may be saying something entirely different, but the official line from the manager, himself of course a former Manchester United favourite is: "Sunderland have always had a good relationship with Manchester United, even prior to my arrival here and long may that continue.

"I know Sir Alex is away at present and with the time difference I haven't had a chance to catch up with him but once he's back I'm sure we'll have a chat and clear things up."

Gibson appeared destined to follow former team-mates John O'Shea and Wes Brown to the
Stadium of Light, only for the deal to collapse over a failure to agree personal terms. Sunderland were apparently unwilling to meet the player's demands for £40,000-a-week, despite, according to Ferguson, having initially indicated that they would.

The Manchester United manager left us in little doubt as to where the blame should be apportioned for the Republic of Ireland midfielder remaining at Old Trafford. He said: "He was on the point of going to Sunderland and somewhere along the line, I don't know exactly when, I think Sunderland moved the goalposts.

 

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Source: http://www.fanhouse.co.uk/2011/07/20/steve-bruce-bites-his-lip-to-keep-sir-alex-ferguson-sweet/

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