Sir Alex Ferguson missed Manchester United's Premier League clash against Fulham on the advice of his doctors.
The Scot, who is being guided back to full health after suffering a brain hemorrhage in May, had attended each of United's three previous matches in the space of just nine days — which included him making the arduous trip to watch them against Southampton on the south coast.
He was also present at Old Trafford for the Champions League victory against Young Boys, as well as the 2-2 draw with Arsenal.
Concerned by his hectic schedule, the former United boss accepted medical advice to skip the visit of the Cottagers.
Speaking to the Sun, one Old Trafford regular said: 'Sir Alex was nowhere to be seen and the word was he has agreed to the message from the medics – that is not to start overdoing things.
'They were concerned after seeing him on TV footage at the games – they then realised that he had been at three matches in just nine days including the lengthy trip to Southampton.
'We have been told Sir Alex took the advice on the chin and in his own inimitable style reluctantly agreed to it!'
His absence from Wednesday night's Champions League meeting with Valencia was probably for the best too, as United turned in yet another infuriating display.
Jose Mourinho's side missed out on top spot in their group thanks to a 2-1 defeat in Spain, and Mourinho said afterwards that he expects better from his squad.
'I expect (better) from my players,' he said after the loss. 'Especially players that week in, week out, you ask me 'why don't they play?', 'why they don't they start?'
'(It) was a good match to play, a match without any kind of pressure, a match in a competition that everybody likes to play.
'And, in the end, my team improved, really, when I made the changes that I didn't want to make, which is a little bit of frustration because I didn't want to play the three players that I played in the second half.'
