Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has slammed Manchester City over the sacking of Mark Hughes.

City have come under fire this week for the whole way they have gone about installing Roberto Mancini as Hughes successor.

Blues chief executive Garry Cook has attempted to defend his position, although that has managed only to draw more ire from his club's interrogators.

And Ferguson feels Cook is trying to defend the indefensible.

"It was unacceptable behaviour," said the United boss. "It doesn't matter whether you have lost 20 games or two, there is a way to treat people.

"For some reason Christmas seems to bring out the worst in directors.

"I do not know how you can do something like that.

"From Saturday morning the rumour mill was working and Mark must have realised it was his last game. It was a terrible position to be in."