"That's City innit - a small club with a small mentality," he
spluttered, unable to disguise his contempt for the other half.
Manchester United's manager put City in their place, cuffed
aside in classic Fergie fashion in response to the controversial
billboard of Carlos Tevez.
The former United striker was sent down the road with a flea in
his ear. Others will soon be in the firing line.
At 67, Ferguson shows no sign of slowing down, emerging from his
summer bolthole in the south of France to choose his targets
carefully. After City, he will pick them off one by one.
He is already eyeballing Rafa Benitez, aware that Liverpool have
re-armed and are ready to renew hostilities.
"I don't have an issue with Benitez," claimed Fergie, a glint in
his eye as he contemplated taking him out before the season has
even started.
He is keeping his powder dry, waiting for the post-Ronaldo era
to kick in before taking pot-shots.
There is such needle between two fierce competitors, already
fired up as they consider what is at stake for the biggest clubs in
English football.
Fergie has given up on Arsene Wenger, no longer considered a
rival in the title race after breaking up the Invincibles of 2004.
It is only a matter of time before Carlo Ancelotti gets up his
nose, though Chelsea's latest manager is keeping quiet for now as
he settles in to Stamford Bridge.
There will be the traditional old pals' act for Blackburn's Sam
Allardyce, Tottenham's Harry Redknapp and Hull's Phil Brown,
ushered into the manager's at Old Trafford office for a glass of
red after another United victory. That will be easy street for
Ferguson's team. But the black hole of Barcelona remains off
limits, still unbearable for the most successful manager in
United's history.
Images of Lionel Messi's outrageous header in Rome are traded
off by the celebrations that followed another Premier League
title.
That was three in a row. Now they want a record fourth and a
momentous 19th league title.
Ferguson makes no bones about the significance of winning the
Premier League again this season, the chance to topple Liverpool
once and for all. It means that much to Ferguson.
His players know the importance, already instructed that the
Premier League is the priority under pressure from a resurgent
Liverpool.
To do it they will alter their attacking philosophy, encouraging
United's midfielders to provide the goals that will bring the team
more glory.
They will miss that bantam Ronaldo, the World Player of the Year
with the Wow Factor whenever the ball was at his feet. Preening and
posturing is a thing of the past for United, with a workmanlike
ethic being introduced to Fergie's Fifth Generation side.
They will miss that sprinkling of stardust out on the wing, the
destructive element capable of the most outrageous match-winning
moments. Never loved, much admired.
Instead they worshipped Tevez, draped in an Argentinian flag as
United celebrated their third successive league title after a 0-0
draw against Arsenal.
Tevez was in tune with the supporters on the terraces, sucked
into the Stretford End by his sheer endeavour and enthusiasm.
It was never the same for Ronaldo, boldly announcing to TV
cameras that "the end of the season is Cristiano time" as he walked
off the field following their 2-1 victory at Wigan.
Now the towering figure of Ronaldo, the flat-track bully who
lost the fire in his belly at the Champions League final, is a
footnote in United's history.
The showboating will stop and the United roadshow rolls on.
Ferguson will turn to Wayne Rooney, thrust up front after a
season isolated on the left wing, to carry them over the finishing
line.
Rooney scored 17 times last season, a decent return from a
player teasing his way in from the touchline.
There will be added responsibility in the role he craves,
drawing the best out of Michael Owen, Dimitar Berbatov and Federico
Macheda.
Ferguson's 4-4-2 formation, a noticeable departure from recent
seasons, was tested on the pre-season tour of Asia, designed with
Owen's goalscoring instincts in mind.
He wants his new-look team to attack from the wings, to provide
ammunition in the same way as Kaka once routinely crossed for the
onrushing figure of Andriy Shevchenko at AC Milan.
They will provide the crosses and Anderson, Owen Hargreaves,
Michael Carrick, Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs will provide the
shield in the centre of midfield.
Anderson, exceptional in both legs of the Champions League
semi-final against Arsenal, yet a massive disappointment in the
final, has yet to score in a competitive match for United. That
needs to be addressed, as does the reluctance of Carrick to take
games by the scruff of the neck.
Giggs, the PFA Player of the Year, and Scholes show no sign of
slowing.
Undoubtedly United will play a more patient game this season,
unlikely to match the 119 goals racked up by one of the most
flexible teams in recent memory.
Defensively they remain solid, with Edwin van der Sar - "one of
the best keepers the game has ever seen," according to Ferguson -
still a commanding presence.
Rio Ferdinand's reading of the game is unrivalled and Nemanja
Vidic still one of the most formidable defenders in the Premier
League.
It will be tight, but defeat in the Champions League final last
May should not overshadow this team's achievements. After all, they
are still world champions.
BIG HOPE: To cope with the loss of world player
of the year Cristiano Ronaldo and secure a fourth consecutive
Premier League title, which would be a record AND put them one
clear of the joint record of 18 league titles they currently share
with their bitter rivals Liverpool. Dimitar Berbatov and Wayne
Rooney will have to really shine.