Overview

• The Manchester Evening News and the Mirror have revisited Neville’s 2018 podcast account explaining why he ignored Schmeichel’s offered hand in the tunnel at Maine Road.
• Neville described a personal pre-match policy of avoiding handshakes to stay focused, preferring to acknowledge opponents only after full time.
• Schmeichel left United after the 1999 Treble for Sporting CP, moved to Aston Villa, then joined Manchester City for the 2002–03 season.
• City won the November 2002 derby 3-1, with Shaun Goater scoring twice and Nicolas Anelka once, while Ole Gunnar Solskjaer netted United’s consolation.
• Neville noted the stance applied even to family, saying he also refused a pre-match handshake with his brother Phil when he captained Everton, as the anecdote is resurfaced in preview coverage for today’s Etihad meeting.