A mascot found the fiery atmosphere at Old Trafford a bit overwhelming ahead of Manchester United’s crucial FA Cup quarter-final against Liverpool on Sunday afternoon.
Roy Keane made a joke about Manchester United after seeing a ball boy crying at Old Trafford ahead of the FA Cup quarter-final against Liverpool.
Former United captain Keane was on punditry duty for ITV alongside Liverpool legend Graeme Souness and ex-Arsenal striker Ian Wright, with Mark Pougatch presenting. While discussing the match ahead of the 3.30pm kick-off, Pougatch spotted a distressed ball boy heading onto the pitch with Bruno Fernandes.
The United skipper had to carry him out for the pre-match handshakes and Pougatch said: “There’s a lot of pressure here this afternoon on a lot of different people and this poor little mascot at the moment is just a little bit overwhelmed, he’s having a soothing word. I think we need Uncle Roy to go and see him.”
Keane’s trademark dry sense of humour immediately came to the fore as he responded: “I think he’s worried about the game, the mascot!”
There was a similar moment ahead of kick-off when United mascot Fred the Red approached Keane looking for a high five. The Irishman stood stock still, with his hands by his side, refusing to engage with the mascot, who decided instead to put his arm around Keane’s shoulders as they chatted briefly.
Keane had some clear advice for United ahead of the huge occasion at Old Trafford. “No more excuses,” he said. “They’ve got to turn up and bring a big performance.”
ITV also interviewed United fan Tyson Fury, who was in attendance to watch his side. His advice was similar: “Just go out there and attack, put pressure on them and play your best football, get stuck right in because that usually works. It’s worked for me anyway, 35 times in a row, so that’s a good tactic.”
United made a good fist of following the advice, with Scott McTominay giving them an early lead after Caoimhin Kelleher parried Alejandro Garnacho’s effort from a tight angle. The Scotland midfielder was on hand to tap home from a yard out and make it 1-0 after just 10 minutes.
After a strong first half, things went wrong for United on the stroke of half-time when Andre Onana couldn’t keep out a deflected strike from Alexis Mac Allister, whose near-post effort made it 1-1. Mohamed Salah then smashed in a rebound after Onana saved from Darwin Nunez to make it 2-1 and turn the game on its head.
