Sir Alex Ferguson has opened up on a swathe of intriguing stories across his career in management and the wider footballing world during a rare interview.
Speaking to The Guardian, the iconic Manchester United boss reflected on his life in the sport ahead of a new documentary coming out about him that has been directed by his son, Jason.
Ferguson singled out an old adversary of his for praise in the Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard.
Gerrard is now the manager of Rangers, a club Ferguson was at in his playing career and the Scot has been impressed with how Gerrard has adapted to management and steered his old club back to the title.
He paid a particular tribute to how Gerrard handles the media, something Ferguson was notoriously astute with during his managerial career.
'He’s done magnificent. He really has, both on and off the field,' Ferguson said. 'A press interview can lose you your job in management. But Steven’s press conferences are fantastic.
'He’s cool, he’s composed, he gives the right answers. He’s really top because it’s an art.'
Ferguson also spoke of how he valued a player with a high level of mental resilience and he referred to the now Juventus attacker Cristiano Ronaldo as one of his primary example.
'That was at the forefront of all my methods of management – to make sure players could cope with the strains and challenges of being a top footballer,' Ferguson said.
'At United, all the best players were mentally tough. Ronaldo is tough, honestly, as old boots. He was always going to be a great player because he had it up there (Ferguson taps his head).
Ferguson also reflected on perhaps his most dramatic triumph as a United manager - the 1999 Champions League final against Bayern Munich at the Nou Camp.
With 90 minutes on the clock, United were 1-0 down but Teddy Sheringham managed to snatch a late equaliser in the first minute of stoppage time before the now United manager, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, poked in from close range two minutes later to seal a storming victory that also clinched United's treble.
As the clock hit 90, did Ferguson really think his team could win it?
'No chance! I was thinking what I’d say to the players: ‘You had a great season.’ But then we won it,' he said.
Ferguson's beloved United are back in Premier League action on Tuesday night, hosting Leicester at Old Trafford. They then take on fierce rivals Liverpool on Thursday in a rearranged fixture.
Hopabcdkp
416
people say juve won nine scudettos and then ronaldo went and ruined them. but the truth is juve won seven scudettos and ronaldo added two more to them. when retired, people will see ronaldos trophy cabinet has different trophies of different leagues than messis trophy cabinet which only has same laliga and copa del reys. you can abuse me but its the truth. future kids will judge the goat players by the different trophies they've won. taking individual records is another thing. only epl player to win all major individual awards in one season. only juve player to score record goals for them in a season. fastest serie a player to 100 goals. countless records in laliga,ucl,portugal i think its better to have many records in different teams than in one team. i hope messi join a epl team and prove haters wrong love both messi and ronaldo
Brightberry
150
Kudos to the GREATEST MANAGER of all time who brought out the best PLAYER OF ALL TIME.
Rashyson
8
people say juve won nine scudettos and then ronaldo went and ruined them. but the truth is juve won seven scudettos and ronaldo added two more to them. when retired, people will see ronaldos trophy cabinet has different trophies of different leagues than messis trophy cabinet which only has same laliga and copa del reys. you can abuse me but its the truth. future kids will judge the goat players by the different trophies they've won. taking individual records is another thing. only epl player to win all major individual awards in one season. only juve player to score record goals for them in a season. fastest serie a player to 100 goals. countless records in laliga,ucl,portugal i think its better to have many records in different teams than in one team. i hope messi join a epl team and prove haters wrong love both messi and ronaldo
yeah true but it wasn't necessary bringing Messi into this because what alot of people fail to understand is that if you are good at football you are good no arguements I try my best not to compare Messi and Ronaldo cause they're the most elite players this world has ever seen and if I prefer Messi there's no way I'll ever say Ronaldo is bad cause to me Messi and Ronaldo are on the same level and that's because if they aren't then no one will compare them. Just like you comparing Harry Kane and lewandowski it's a mouth watering argument but everyone will tell you it's lewandowski.