Sir Alex was asked to give his opinion on the title race and he certainly didn’t disappoint

Sir Alex Ferguson sat back with that familiar calm smile — the same one he used to wear whenever his Manchester United side had just broken someone else’s dream. Cameras were on him, the interviewer waited for words, the question hung in the air: *“Sir Alex, between Manchester City and Arsenal, who would you rather see win the Premier League title?”* The old man’s eyes blinked slowly, his lips didn’t move for a few seconds. Then came the answer — short, sharp, and cold enough to freeze the room. “I’m not interested,” he said.

Those three words said more than a thousand speeches. Because deep down, every football fan in England knew exactly what Ferguson meant. He didn’t have to say it directly, but the message was clear — he didn’t want either of them to win. Not City. Not Arsenal. Not anyone except Manchester United.

Even after retirement, even after stepping away from the touchline, that fire inside him never went out. Sir Alex Ferguson remains Manchester United in human form — the symbol of their glory, the man who built empires and crushed others without mercy. And to see a title race now dominated by City and Arsenal — two clubs that used to chase United’s shadow — is something that touches a deep nerve.

It’s October 2025, and the Premier League has turned into a storm. Arsenal sit on top of the table, playing some of the best football in the league. Mikel Arteta’s young Gunners have collected 19 points from eight matches, defeating Manchester United and Newcastle, while holding Manchester City to a tense 1–1 draw. Their only defeat so far was a narrow 1–0 loss to Liverpool at Anfield. But they look hungry, confident, and mature. The Emirates is alive again, the songs are loud again, and the dream of finally ending their long wait for a Premier League title feels real.

On the other side, Manchester City, the blue half of Manchester, are back in the fight after a slow start to the season. Pep Guardiola’s men lost two of their opening three matches, but the signing of Gianluigi Donnarumma and the unstoppable form of Erling Haaland have changed everything. Now, City are second, just three points behind Arsenal, and have won four of their last five matches, conceding only two goals. They are like a machine — rebuilt, refocused, and ready to hunt.

This is the kind of title race that football dreams of. Arsenal — the elegant challengers, reborn under Arteta. City — the champions of control, chasing history again. Liverpool — still fighting, refusing to fade. But to Sir Alex Ferguson, watching all of this unfold feels strange. Because for the first time in years, Manchester United aren’t even close.

Under Ruben Amorim, United have shown flashes of progress. They’ve managed back-to-back wins, including a hard-fought 2–1 victory over Liverpool at Anfield — something that sent joy through Old Trafford. But even then, Ferguson knows the truth — United are still far from the level he left them at. Ninth place on the table, struggling for consistency, still trying to find identity. And as he sits in front of the camera, being asked to choose between City and Arsenal, the old fire burns again.l

For Ferguson, Arsenal and Manchester City represent two very different battles from his long reign as United manager. Arsenal were the old war — the years of trench fights, mind games, and tension with Arsène Wenger. Those were the days of Keane vs Vieira, of Highbury vs Old Trafford, of pizza flying in the tunnel and hatred mixed with respect. Arsenal under Wenger were beautiful and bold, but Ferguson’s United were ruthless. He respected Wenger’s football, but he never wanted to see Arsenal on top again.

Then came City — the new war. The noisy neighbours. The club that dared to challenge United’s throne in the same city. When Sheikh Mansour’s billions arrived, Ferguson didn’t panic. He famously said, *“Not in my lifetime”* when asked if City would ever overtake United. But football, cruel as it is, proved him wrong. City did rise. They became the new kings of Manchester, then of England. Pep Guardiola built what Ferguson once built — a dynasty. And every new trophy City lift reminds the old man that United’s empire has fallen.

So when ITV Racing’s Matt Chapman asked Ferguson who he’d rather see win — City or Arsenal — the question wasn’t just about football. It was about history, ego, and emotion. Ferguson paused. He gave that cold smile. And then came the answer that summed up a lifetime of rivalry in three words: “I’m not interested.” Chapman laughed nervously, replying, “Sensible. Very sensible. You know the game, don’t you, Sir Alex?”

Ferguson just stared back, eyes sharp as ever, before finally breaking into laughter. But even that laugh didn’t hide the truth — he meant every word. He wasn’t joking. He really didn’t care who won because, in his heart, no title meant anything unless it was Manchester United lifting it.That’s Ferguson — loyal to the end.

When fans saw the clip of that interview, it went viral instantly. Twitter, now called X, exploded with reactions. Some fans called it “peak Fergie mentality.” Others joked that he’d rather see the league cancelled than watch either City or Arsenal win it. But most understood that this was more than just banter. It was the voice of a man who lived his entire life to keep Manchester United at the top — and still refuses to give an inch even from retirement.

It also showed how deep the rivalry between United, Arsenal, and City still runs. Even though Ferguson has long left the dugout, his shadow still stretches across English football. Arteta’s Arsenal are built on control, precision, and youth — just like the Arsenal Ferguson battled in the 2000s. Guardiola’s City, meanwhile, are built on dominance, obsession, and perfection — just like Ferguson’s own United once were. Watching these two teams fight for the crown now must feel like watching ghosts from two different eras.

And yet, Ferguson smiles. Because he knows football is a cycle. Every empire eventually falls — and every empire can rise again. He’s seen it all. He built United from the ground up, from the days when they couldn’t beat Liverpool to the days when they ruled the world. So when he says “I’m not interested,” part of it is pride, part of it is pain, and part of it is quiet confidence. Deep down, he believes United will return.

But until that day comes, he will never pick sides. Not between Arsenal and City. Not between anyone who wears colours other than red.

In the 2025/26 Premier League season, Arsenal and City’s battle is shaping up to be one for the ages. Arteta’s side, disciplined and full of young energy, have turned their fans into believers again. Martin Ødegaard leads with maturity beyond his years, Bukayo Saka dances down the wings, and new signing Gabriel Jesus continues to link play beautifully when fit. Arsenal look fearless.

City, though, are the monster that never dies. Even when people say they’re finished, they come back stronger. Donnarumma has stabilized their defense, Haaland keeps breaking records, and Pep Guardiola — even after so many years — still finds new ways to reinvent his team. They are chasing their fifth Premier League title in six seasons, a feat that would make them one of the greatest sides in English history.

And as all of this unfolds, Ferguson’s quiet presence hovers like a reminder of the past. Because no matter how many titles City win, or how beautiful Arsenal’s football becomes, they still live in the shadow of what Ferguson built at Manchester United.

There’s a reason fans still quote him, still look for his reactions, still care what he thinks. Because Ferguson didn’t just win trophies — he created a mindset. The belief that Manchester United should fear no one, respect no one too much, and never settle for second best.

When asked once about his rivalry with Wenger, Ferguson famously said, “My greatest challenge was knocking Liverpool right off their perch. And you can print that.” Decades later, when he looks at City’s dominance, that same challenge seems to whisper again. Only this time, the perch belongs to the blue side of Manchester.

Perhaps that’s why his silence during the interview meant so much. Because deep inside, Ferguson still wants one last thing before time runs out — to see United climb back up and knock City off again.

As the 2025 season continues, Manchester United’s progress under Ruben Amorim will be tested. The Portuguese manager has started to bring belief back, using young players and a brave style of football. The 2–1 victory over Liverpool gave fans hope, but Ferguson knows better than anyone that consistency wins titles, not moments. United need to rediscover that killer instinct — the same one he built into their DNA.

For now, Arsenal and City dominate the conversation, trading wins and goals while the rest of the league tries to catch up. But Ferguson’s words — or rather, his lack of words — remain the headline. “I’m not interested.”

It’s a sentence that every Manchester United fan secretly loves. Because it’s the sound of pure loyalty. It’s the sound of a man who refuses to bow to his rivals. It’s the sound of Manchester United’s soul.

In a football world filled with polite answers, fake smiles, and rehearsed diplomacy, Ferguson’s honesty still cuts through like a blade. He doesn’t play nice. He doesn’t pretend to be neutral. To him, football is war — and the only victory that matters is United’s.

So as Arsenal prepare to host Crystal Palace and City travel to Aston Villa, all eyes are once again on the title race. The Gunners want to prove they’ve learned from last season’s heartbreak. City want to show that the crown still belongs in Manchester. And somewhere, perhaps sitting in his Old Trafford office, sipping a glass of red wine, Sir Alex Ferguson will be watching quietly.

Maybe he’ll smile when City drop points. Maybe he’ll chuckle when Arsenal falter. But no matter what happens, one thing is sure — he won’t care who lifts the trophy in May. Because in Sir Alex Ferguson’s world, there is only one real winner — and they wear red.