Legendary manager Sir Alex Ferguson has branded Arsenal "boring" after their Champions League final defeat to PSG, reportedly sending a message to the French club's president criticizing their defensive approach.
Arsenal suffered a heart-wrenching penalty shootout loss in Budapest after a tense 1-1 draw over 120 minutes, failing to secure their first-ever European title. While the Gunners' fanbase is left reeling, Manchester United's iconic former boss didn't hold back his thoughts on Mikel Arteta's tactics.
According to French publication L'Equipe, Ferguson reached out to PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaïfi after the final whistle. His message allegedly stated: "Nasser, this is Alex Ferguson. Well done, it was a tough night for you, but you played against a boring team that did nothing but defend. Enjoy your holidays, you deserve it."
Arsenal took an early lead through Kai Havertz just six minutes into the game but spent the majority of the remaining 114 minutes defending deep, registering less than 25% possession. For a manager like Ferguson, known for his era of attacking football, Arteta's cautious game plan clearly didn't impress.
While Arteta's pragmatic style has drawn criticism from many, it's undeniable that it has brought success. This defensively strong setup was key to Arsenal ending their 22-year Premier League title drought just weeks ago. Arteta has transformed the Gunners into a formidable defensive unit, boasting the best defensive record in England, turning them back into a trophy-winning force, even if it ended in a penalty shootout defeat in Budapest.
