Sir Alex Ferguson was taken to hospital on Sunday before Manchester United's 3-2 win over Liverpool — falling ill in the tunnel area at Old Trafford shortly before kickoff.
The 84-year-old's hospitalisation was described as a "precautionary measure" at the time, and the early signs have been cautiously encouraging. A source quoted by the Press Association described Ferguson as "O.K." on the day.
Carrick's message to the old boss
United manager Michael Carrick was aware of the situation before the match but admitted he had no further updates by the time he faced the media post-match.
"I was very affected by the news," Carrick said. "I hope he is all right. We hope him to be in good shape and we wish him all the best — and hopefully the result gives him a good boost."
It's hard to imagine a better result to send his way. United sealed Champions League qualification with that win, which adds a layer of significance to an already charged afternoon at Old Trafford.
A history of health battles
Concern around Ferguson is never trivial. In 2018, he underwent emergency surgery after suffering a brain haemorrhage — one that, by his own account, nearly killed him.
"There were five brain haemorrhages that day," Ferguson recalled in his documentary Never Give In. "Three died. Two survived. You know you are lucky."
He made a full recovery, returning to Old Trafford five months later to a 27-minute standing ovation — one minute for each year of his tenure. He's also spoken candidly about concerns over dementia, a condition that affected his brother, telling the BBC earlier this season: "When you get to my age, you do have a little worry about whether your memory is going to stand up."
For now, the updates are positive. But Sunday was a sharp reminder of how fragile things can be — even at a club still very much shaped by the man who built it.
