Saturday 25 May 2019 09:38, UK
Andy Cole has revealed how Teddy Sheringham ruining his England debut set off a career-long feud between the former Manchester United team-mates.
Cole was brought on as a substitute for Sheringham in a friendly against Uruguay in March 1995, but was left "embarrassed" when the senior player failed to acknowledge the significance of the moment for the then 23-year-old.
The pair went on to become club team-mates when Sheringham arrived at Old Trafford in 1997, and didn't speak to each other despite functioning successfully in United's treble-winning side.
"I didn't want to play the game after that," Cole told The Daily Telegraph. "That's how embarrassed I felt.
"Snubbed on the line when you're making your debut as a young kid… I think I hit the bar in the game but I couldn't get it out of my mind.
"We never spoke. Unless it was going to be another argument between us… never spoke. We didn't exchange a single word while we were there."
With their playing days over, the pair have put the feud behind them and will be on civil terms when they both feature in a "legends" game against Bayern Munich on Sunday to celebrate the 20-year anniversary of United's treble.
However, Cole recalls how the extreme hostility between the striking duo led to a physical confrontation during half-time of a Premier League game against Bolton in 1998.
"Teddy's come down the tunnel and said something to me and the mist came down and I went for him," Cole said.
"I didn't get the opportunity because 'Skip' (Roy Keane) got hold of me and started having a go.
"And then 10 or 20 seconds later, Roy ends up having an argument with Teddy and goes for him himself."
