‘Alan Hansen's `you-never-win-anything-with-kids' jibe one game into the 1995-96 campaign has established its own niche in football folklore.
‘But the former Liverpool star, now a BBC pundit, should really have known better. For, in an extensive interview with www.manutd.com ahead of his 1,000th game in charge against Lyon next Tuesday, Sir Alex Ferguson has revealed Hansen was on the wrong end of the result the day he realised Manchester United's `Class of 92' would go on to greatness.
“It was obvious to me they were going to be something special in 1992 when they battered everybody in the Lancashire `A' League,” said Ferguson.
“At the time, the Lancashire League was a very tough league and teams would use it for players coming back from injury. I was down in London the day the lads played Liverpool and I phoned (then youth coach) Eric Harrison to get the result. He just said `it was the best performance I have seen from a United team. We demolished them 5-0'.
“Alan Hansen scored an own goal as well. It is a day I will always remember.”’
Fergie also looks at what it takes to be a manager:
“When you get into football management, you have to have the qualities that are necessary for that kind of job. One is certainly determination, one is perseverance and another is sacrifice. If you don't have those qualities then you don't stand a chance in management. I started at 32 and don't believe I have changed in that respect. That is why I have survived over 30 years as manager.
“Managing this club makes it even easier; the standards set at the club, its history and the fan base make it easy in terms of motivation. You're not working for a small part-time team at the bottom of the league in Scotland. You're working for a fantastically-supported, multi-national, world-renowned team. The level of support Manchester United achieves always drives you on.”