FORMER HEROES LAUD THEIR FORMER BOSS

Last updated : 23 February 2003 By Editor

Scmeichel and Ince

Our former keeper in The Sunday Times:

The interesting thing was if I’d made a big mistake he wouldn’t say anything, he’d pat me on the back because he knew I’d be hurting. It’s all about man-management with him. Contrary to the idea put forward that nobody’s allowed to answer Fergie back, I always expressed my opinions and it was never a problem. With him being so passionate, it would be against nature and logic if he didn’t want players who were passionate too. The brilliant thing was that as soon as you were finished letting off steam at each other, whatever the argument, that was that. Ten minutes later, you could be playing cards with him.

There was one time I overstepped the line, but even then he forgave me. We drew 3-3 against Liverpool after being 3-0 up within 10 minutes. I could do nothing about the goals and had saved the team from defeat, but Fergie was not happy with my kicking. I knew his thinking: he couldn’t have a go at every single player so he’d have a go at me, but it was the wrong day to do it. I reacted badly and, in answering back, went too far.

Two days later, when we were back at training, he called me into his office and said he was going to sack me. I said: "Regardless of that, I owe you an apology boss." There was then a meeting with the whole team to discuss the game and he got up and left. When he had gone, I apologised to the players for my reaction. It was only years later that I found out he’d hid behind the door listening. He didn’t sack me and I played the next game.

In a team, particularly one trying to win things, there are strong characters with strong emotions and sometimes a manager will lose his temper with his players, sometimes players will lose their tempers with the manager and sometimes players will lose their tempers with each other. It’s part of football. On the pitch, you get a splitsecond to tell teammates what you want — you don’t have time to say to your defence: "Hey, listen guys, can you move across to cover the striker, please?" — so you’ve got to shout.

From a player’s point of view, I want my manager to get angry sometimes. I’d be disappointed if things went wrong, particularly when commitment was part of the problem, and the manager didn’t let off steam.

And from a surprising source, Paul Ince:

"He's a gent from Monday to Friday. Then on Saturday out comes the beast.


"You knew if you made a mistake and the team lost, you dreaded going back into the changing room because you knew you were going to get it.

"Everyone knew you were going to get it and you were quaking before you got in there."

But though Ferguson sets his players high standards, Ince, who left United in a controversial move to Inter Milan in 1995 and was criticised in Ferguson's autobiography, said the former Aberdeen manager is "a fair man."


"I've had the 'hairdryer' a couple of times.

"That is just the way it is. Loads of players were mentally strong and wanted to do well.


"He is a good man. The more I got to know him, he is a hard man, but a fair man."

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