One of the few players to represent both Manchester United and Liverpool contrasted his relationship with both sets of supporters, crediting Anfield fans for backing their ex-players
Former Manchester United midfielder Paul Ince once called out the club’s supporters for their treatment after his switch to Liverpool. In stark contrast, he heaped praise on the Anfield faithful, lauding the Kop for how they received him during and after his time on Merseyside.
Ince, 58, eventually moved on to Wolves, who travel to Anfield on Saturday. And his relationship with Liverpool’s devoted fanbase couldn’t be more different to the one he shares with those at Old Trafford.
The ex-England international, who has denied his switch to Liverpool was the “cardinal sin” some suggest, is believed to have had a falling out with Sir Alex Ferguson before his 1995 move to Inter Milan. Yet much of the animosity from United fans stems from ‘The Guv’nor’ subsequently joining arch-rivals Liverpool.
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Ince wore the captain’s armband for Middlesbrough against United and later led Wolves on his return visits to Old Trafford throughout his career. But while he’s maintained a warm rapport with Liverpool’s supporters, the relationship with United’s faithful has been far more fractious.
“I get a lot of grief from Manchester United fans and I can’t understand it,” he said back in 2002. “They should remember I was part of the team that took the title back to Old Trafford for the first time in 26 years.
“I sweated blood and shed tears in my six years at United and I think I should be respected for that. But all I get is stick whenever I go there because Ferguson once called me a ‘big-time Charlie’ in some television programme. So now it’s a case of, ‘Let’s wind him up again.'”
Ince, who secured two Premier League titles and two FA Cups during his time at Old Trafford, later admitted he “didn’t leave Liverpool in the best circumstances” following a falling-out with then-boss Gerard Houllier. Yet, this wasn’t sufficient to turn supporters against him.
In fact, he placed the Reds faithful in a different bracket altogether when comparing the two sets of fans years down the line. And those present for the festive clash against Wolves will be hoping to demonstrate that much of his acclaim remains true today.
“Liverpool European nights, you can’t beat them,” he said on the Blood Red podcast in 2019. “They’re special and it is iconic with all the flags. It is amazing. I think the atmosphere depends on the time, doesn’t it? When we look at Old Trafford, because it is so vast now, it is so corporate, it’s not the atmosphere that you do get at Liverpool.
“I love the Liverpool people. They come and support the team, they know football and they back their players. But one thing about the two teams, you never see them boo their players off, or very rarely.
“They are understanding fans. They are different atmospheres in different ways, but I like the way Liverpool look after their players, look after their own.”
After a poor spell of results in recent months, Liverpool are now chasing a fourth consecutive victory at home to Wolves. A win on Saturday would lift Arne Slot’s side into fourth place, at least temporarily, with Chelsea facing Aston Villa later this evening.
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