Tim Howard’s strong comments on Man Utd mistake after playing under Sir Alex Ferguson

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Tim Howard has opened up on his spell at Manchester United and his infamous mistake against Porto. The USA international spent four years at Old Trafford. And while he had some good moments, he wasn’t ale to establish himself as the club’s No 1.

Howard enjoyed a terrific first season at United, helping them win the FA Cup.

However, he was guilty of making a few mistakes – with one against Porto standing out.

Howard saved from a free-kick but should have held the ball, which then fell into the path of Costinha to score.

And now, speaking to club media, the former Everton shot-stopper has addressed that error – insisting he thought the criticism went over the top at the time.

Speaking defiantly, he said: “In general, my first season at United was great.

“There was one real black mark on it, which was the Champions League game against Porto at Old Trafford.

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“Over the years, I’ve come to terms with the fact that I jumpstarted Jose Mourinho’s career (I’m kidding), but at the time I wasn’t able to comprehend the magnitude of the mistake.

“As far as I was concerned, I made the save from the initial free-kick.

“I recognised that people thought it was a mistake, but I couldn’t understand the scrutiny.

“I was young, though. I was 22 so I just wasn’t able to comprehend it all until years later.

“Towards the end of my career, I could evaluate one of my performances and tell you exactly what I’d done right or wrong, but at 22, I wasn’t there yet.

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“In a number of ways it would have been great to go to United a decade after I did, when I had a lot more experience, but there’s no way I’d ever regret joining at such a young age.

“If you have the chance to go and play for United, you do it. You don’t ask questions.

“And, if you have the chance to go and play for United, you know you’ll be challenging for trophies. That’s how it turned out at the end of my first season.”

On winning the FA Cup, he continued: “I knew all about the history of the FA Cup long before I played in it.

“As much as it was difficult to see too many games in America, there was a romance and mystique about the FA Cup.

“Personally, even though we didn’t win the Premier League, I thought it had been an incredible year – I’d been named in the PFA Team of the Year and won the Community Shield – so to have the chance to play in the FA Cup final against Millwall was the icing on the cake.

“It was a chance for me to cement my name in history as only the second American to win the FA Cup.

“Plus, as there were also two other American goalkeepers in the Premier League at the time, I – again, still a 22-year-old – thought I was the best, so I was trying to claw myself into the conversation with them too.

“To go out and win the FA Cup in Cardiff was amazing, and a real special moment for me personally. It capped a great debut season.

“Obviously, Edwin van der Sar then came in and established himself as a world class No 1, so I was happy to go out on loan to Everton, where I went on to have 10 great years, but I only look back with fondness on my time at United.

“I was able to play with some of the best players from some of United’s greatest teams, plus a young Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney, while being coached by Sir Alex Ferguson.

“What’s to regret? You just don’t get that opportunity. You can’t even dream that.”

Howard retired in 2020. 

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