It would take a particularly abstract mind for anyone to ever feel sorry for Sir Alex Ferguson, the teak-tough footballing fuhrer who has won more accolades than anyone manager in Britain.
But the overriding feeling emanating from his performance in front of the media yesterday - other than the drama of the fact Wayne Rooney actually really was leaving - was that this was someone experiencing a bitter and hurtful sense of loss.
He had the look of a granddad who has come to the end of his pack of Werther's Originals, and suddenly realised he is not loved half as much as he thought he was by the grandchildren.
For all the many and varied obstacles he put up to avoid addressing the issue, Ferguson is still the only person to have actually given an honest answer to what is going on at Old Trafford.
Rooney's acolytes made the bed for their charge via the usual transfer brinkmanship, being heard in the media but not seen in recent days. Club spokesmen clearly told bare-faced lies when they said the idea of him leaving was "nonsense".
Peculiar, that, given Ferguson admitted he knew of the player's intentions in mid-August. Granted, he took the longest round about route possible - jettisoning press from press conferences and giving answers to only the most banal questions - until all the escape hatches were covered.
Perhaps it was a case of him being his usual, pig-headed, damn-the-lot-of-you self.
But more likely, it seems, he just did not want to own up to it himself, as if saying it out loud meant it really was true.
What next? Can he win everyone back by proving his pension money still stretches to the best sweets in the shop? Or is it the end of the road for Fergie?
He has loved and lost before, and rebuilt. But rarely has the loss been as acute as this time.
pradley@thenational.ae
Analysis
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Wicked
Director: Jon M Chu
Stars: Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, Jonathan Bailey
The specs
Engine: Four electric motors, one at each wheel
Power: 579hp
Torque: 859Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
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The permutations for UAE going to the 2018 World Cup finals
To qualify automatically
UAE must beat Iraq.
Australia must lose in Japan and at home to Thailand, with their losing margins and the UAE's winning margin over Iraq being enough to overturn a goal difference gap of eight.
Saudi Arabia must lose to Japan, with their losing margin and the UAE's winning margin over Iraq being enough to overturn a goal difference gap of eight.
To finish third and go into a play-off with the other third-placed AFC side for a chance to reach the inter-confederation play-off match
UAE must beat Iraq.
Saudi Arabia must lose to Japan, with their losing margin and the UAE's winning margin over Iraq being enough to overturn a goal difference gap of eight.
BUNDESLIGA FIXTURES
Saturday, May 16 (kick-offs UAE time)
Borussia Dortmund v Schalke (4.30pm)
RB Leipzig v Freiburg (4.30pm)
Hoffenheim v Hertha Berlin (4.30pm)
Fortuna Dusseldorf v Paderborn (4.30pm)
Augsburg v Wolfsburg (4.30pm)
Eintracht Frankfurt v Borussia Monchengladbach (7.30pm)
Sunday, May 17
Cologne v Mainz (4.30pm),
Union Berlin v Bayern Munich (7pm)
Monday, May 18
Werder Bremen v Bayer Leverkusen (9.30pm)
RESULTS
2.15pm Maiden (PA) Dh40,000 (Dirt) 1,200m
Winner Shawall, Abdul Aziz Al Balushi (jockey), Majed Al Jahouri (trainer)
2.45pm Handicap (PA) Dh40,000 (D) 1,200m
Winner Anna Bella Aa, Fabrice Veron, Abdelkhir Adam
3.15pm Handicap (PA) Dh40,000 (D) 1,200m
Winner AF Thayer, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel
3.45pm Handicap (PA) Dh40,000 (D) 1,700m
Winner Taajer, Fabrice Veron, Eric Lemartinel
4.15pm The Ruler of Sharjah Cup – Prestige (PA) Dh250,000 (D) 1,700m
Winner Jawaal, Jim Crowley, Majed Al Jahouri
4.45pm Handicap (TB) Dh40,000 (D) 2,000m
Winner Maqaadeer, Jim Crowley, Doug Watson
Final results:
Open men
Australia 94 (4) beat New Zealand 48 (0)
Plate men
England 85 (3) beat India 81 (1)
Open women
Australia 121 (4) beat South Africa 52 (0)
Under 22 men
Australia 68 (2) beat New Zealand 66 (2)
Under 22 women
Australia 92 (3) beat New Zealand 54 (1)
A State of Passion
Directors: Carol Mansour and Muna Khalidi
Stars: Dr Ghassan Abu-Sittah
Rating: 4/5
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
