Former Manchester United coach Chris Armas denies receiving Alex Ferguson put-down

'People listen to that stuff and it's an incredible lie'

Former Manchester United coach Chris Armas has firmly dismissed reports claiming Alex Ferguson delivered a stinging put-down when the pair met for the first time. Armas joined United as part of Ralf Rangnick's coaching staff during his time as interim manager last season. The American began his coaching career as an assistant manager at Chicago Fire and was later named manager of New York Red Bulls, where he had first met Rangnick, and Toronto FC.

Chris Armas sets the record straight

It was reported at the end of the season that Ferguson had met Armas at United's Champions League group game at home to Young Boys last December, where the American was able to tell him about his career to date. Ferguson, it was claimed, seemed unimpressed. "You’ll need more than that here, son," he reportedly told him. Speaking to The Crack Podcast, however, Armas has strongly denied that this happened. The 49-year-old admitted that his one meeting with Ferguson did indeed take place at the Young Boys game, but that Ferguson greeted him warmly and offered his help if it was required.

"Sadly, at the end of the season, something comes out in the media," he said. "The season is over guys, and something comes out and says 'Yeah, you know, Alex Ferguson, when he meets Chris Armas, speaks to him the other day and says that "You have to have a better resume than Chicago Fire and Toronto, you gotta do better than that, son.'"

Chris Armas: 'Whoever wrote that should be fired on the spot'

"What does that even mean?" Chris Armas asked.

"Whoever wrote that should be fired on the spot. That person should be fired on the spot because people listen to that stuff and it's an incredible lie. "I was the assistant interim manager and the season was done. And it's not even true. What are you saying that for?"

He added: "[Do people think] I'm gonna name drop. 'Hey Sir Alex, just so you know I coached in Toronto.' Could you imagine? "And then you have a choice when Sky Sports calls and says 'Chris do you want to talk about your time at Manchester United?' "Part of me is like, go and just vent it out. But I was like no, I'm not doing it. It's only going to bring more negativity. I only worked as hard as I could and delivered good work over there, I promise you, and stuff comes out."

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