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Peter Schmeichel joined Manchester City in 2002, a move that did not sit well with his former Manchester United team-mate Gary Neville as evidenced by his actions ahead of a derby day at Maine Road
Gary Neville famously refused to shake hands with Peter Schmeichel during the 2002 Manchester derby. The pair had formed a close bond during Schmeichel’s eight-year tenure at Old Trafford in the 1990s.
However, Schmeichel’s decision to join City in 2002 after successful stints with Sporting CP and Aston Villa was seen as a betrayal by many United fans. The move also particularly irked Neville due to the intense rivalry between the two Manchester clubs.
An awkward moment ensued during the Manchester derby in November, 23 years ago, when both teams were lining up in the tunnel at Maine Road. Schmeichel, leading out City, offered his hand to Neville, who was standing in as United’s captain, but the full-back remained silent, briefly locking eyes with Schmeichel before brushing his hand aside.
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Neville then stood firm, a stern expression on his face, before leading his team onto the pitch to face their fierce rivals. Reflecting on the incident in 2018, Neville defended his decision to snub Schmeichel. During an appearance on the Quickly Kevin, Will He Score? podcast, he explained: “When you look back now and you’re 43, like I am, there are two things about that.
“One, he left Man United at the age of whatever he was, 35, and he said he was retiring, basically to go abroad. At the time when he came back, he played for Manchester City. You can’t play for Manchester City. I’m a United fan and I can’t play for Manchester City, I can’t play for Leeds and I can’t play for Liverpool. That’s just written in stone.
“You just don’t play for those clubs, irrespective of what happens. He’d won the treble with United in ’99, said that he was retiring… he should have carried on playing for United for the next two or three years if that was the case. We struggled for a keeper between Peter and Edwin [van der Sar].
“The other thing was at that time I hated everybody, we all did. Everybody hated us, we all hated everybody. That’s the way it was. With Sir Alex [Ferguson], you’re on an island and we were [in a] siege mentality. If you’re not on the island, do one.”
Neville also revealed he maintained a strict policy of refusing to shake hands with opposing players before kick-off, regardless of their identity or allegiance. He added: “Shake hands at the end of the game when you’ve had the battle. I just think, I’m focusing before a game.
“I’m focusing on my first pass, which wasn’t always a good one, my first touch, my first tackle, my opponent and how I’m going to affect him in the first five minutes of that game. I can’t let him go past me on my first one-on-one – that’s impossible – because if he goes past me the first time he’s going to get confidence.
“I’m also going to run off him going forward to make him think he’s got to run back. The first time the ball is in the air, I’m going to win that header. All I’m thinking about before that game is that. The idea of talking to a player from the opposition – that would distract me.
“So you say about not shaking hands with Peter Schmeichel, but I didn’t shake hands with my brother [Phil Neville] when he was captain of Everton. And that’s not because I don’t like my brother – I do like him, he’s all right.”
During that memorable Manchester derby, City thrashed United 3-1 at home, with Shaun Goater netting twice and Nicolas Anelka also on target to overshadow Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s consolation goal. The revelation comes ahead of Sunday’s clash between the Manchester rivals at the Etihad Stadium, more than two decades after Neville’s confrontation with Schmeichel.
Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City are desperate to find their footing at home after a mixed start to the season, with a victory over Wolves but defeats to Tottenham Hotspur and Brighton. The Citizens are keen to get back on track in one of the most high-stakes games of the season.
Meanwhile, United have had a varied start to the season, with a loss, a draw and a win against Arsenal, Fulham and Burnley respectively. Manager Ruben Amorim is under pressure to deliver this season, having received full support from the board this summer, following a disappointing 15th-place finish in the Premier League last term.
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Sky Sports discounted Premier League and EFL package
Sky has slashed the price of its Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle ahead of the 2025/26 season, saving members £192 and offering more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more.
Sky will show at least 215 live Premier League games next season, an increase of up to 100 more.
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