Sir Alex Ferguson took aim at Mikel Arteta’s side, calling Arsenal “boring” while congratulating PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi on winning the Champions League.
The Gunners missed out on their first European title with a heartbreaking penalty shootout defeat in Budapest after a tough 1-1 draw that lasted more than 120 minutes.
While Arsenal fans were saddened by the defeat, Manchester United’s legendary former manager was quick to make his feelings clear about the tactical approach deployed by the north London club.
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Sir Alex Ferguson calls Arsenal a boring team
According to a report in French publication L’Equipe (via Get Football News France), the iconic Scottish manager contacted PSG executives directly after the final whistle.
Ferguson is reported to have sent a message to Al-Khelaifi harshly criticizing Arsenal’s ultra-defensive game plan.
“Nasser, this is Alex Ferguson. Well done, it was a tough night for you, against a boring team that played a lot of defense. Enjoy your holidays, you deserve it,” he was quoted as saying.
The Gunners took a dream lead just six minutes into the game with a goal from Kai Havertz, but spent the majority of the next 114 minutes sitting deep in a compact low block, with less than 25% possession for the entire game.
For someone like Ferguson, whose historic rivalry with Arsene Wenger defined an era of free attacking football, Arteta’s refusal to open up and go for the second goal clearly did not sit well with him.
Mikel Arteta’s style of play has come under widespread criticism
Arteta’s pragmatic approach has drawn harsh criticism from neutrals and pundits alike, but there is no denying that it has worked for him so far.
It is this robust, defensively resilient set-up that enabled Arsenal to break a 22-year domestic drought and win the Premier League title just a few weeks ago.
Arteta has turned the Gunners into an incredibly tough opponent to beat, with one of England’s most formidable defensive records.
Although the bus parking in Budapest ultimately ended in a shootout defeat, its tactical identity returned Arsenal to trophy-winning powerhouses.
