In the stands at Old Trafford he maintained his inscrutability, never betraying annoyance or despair. The chances are that he was disappointed by the half-heartedness of some of United’s players and by the turgid pace of play. When Ryan Giggs said this week, “It’s time to play like Man United again”, it was a cry from the heart of the Ferguson era, when the emphasis was on boldness, entertainment and spirit. When a critical mass of players lost faith in Moyes, Ferguson was conflicted between loyalty to his successor and his own mantra that the well-being of the club should come before any individual. Reports say some players grumbled to their old leader about the new man not being up to the job.