Say what you like about Manchester United fans – no honestly, go right ahead – but when it comes to player-related chants, their extensive back catalogue is hard to argue with.
George Best, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Nemanja Vidic and Jaap Stam are just some of the names who still receive regular musical tributes from United’s away support, and it was no different at The Stadium Light yesterday, as Jose Mourinho’s side ensured Sunderland remained in their relentless vortex of misery by cruising to a 3-0 victory.
So comfortable were the visitors with their lead, in fact, that the away end even found a slot for ex-United striker Diego Forlan in the busy pissed-up singing schedule, much to the bafflement of their current manager.
In a clip that has since spread like wildfire on social media, Mourinho can be seen turning to Michael Carrick behind him to ask who the song was about. It doesn’t look like he’s all that familiar with the Uruguayan’s cult status at Old Trafford. Astute lip readers have deduced that when Carrick explains they were singing “Diego”, the Portuguese coach replied, “why?”
Take a quick glance at Forlan’s stats during his relatively short spell in Manchester and you’d be forgiven for reacting in much the same way as Jose at learning that his chant has endured. He scored 17 goals in 98 appearances for United – hardly prolific when you consider some of the other players to don that famous red shirt. But his brace against Liverpool at Anfield in December 2002 – before which Forlan managed just three goals in the 11 months since his move from Independiente – was enough to secure a memorable win for United, despite Sami Hyypia halving the deficit in the final 10 minutes.
And so the song was born:
Diego, whoooah,
Diego, whoooah,
He came from Uruguay,
And made the Scousers cry
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