Ferguson can't understand why gaffers like Jose & Rodgers take notes in games

Legendary Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has questioned why managers take notes during matches and underlined the importance of having a good memory while in the dugout.

Ferguson, speaking to The Guardian, admitted that when he was taken ill with a brain hemorrhage in 2018 one of his major fears during his recovery was that his memory would be damaged.

The United boss used his memory as a key tool during his trophy-laden career at Old Trafford and admits that it seems strange to him when he sees managers today taking notes on the sidelines.

Two of his successors at United in Jose Mourinho and David Moyes have been known to do it, as well as Leicester boss Brendan Rodgers.

'As a manager I depended on my memory,' Ferguson said. 'You see games today where some managers take notes during the match. I never did that.

'I always depended on my memory and when I went to the dressing room that was very powerful for me.

'I can't understand why a manager would take notes during the game. Put your head down to write and you miss a goal?'

The now 79-year-old also opened up on just how worried he felt about losing his memory during his recovery three years ago and even had to work with a speech therapist.

'The speech therapist came in every day and she was phenomenal,' Ferguson said. 'She had me writing down all the names of my family and my players.

'Then she started on animals, fish and birds to see if I could remember the names. Gradually my voice came back. But the more important thing was my memory was OK.'

Ferguson appears in good health nowadays and has been at Old Trafford watching United, who now managed by one of his former players in Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

Last week, he visited Paris Saint-Germain manager Mauricio Pochettino before their Champions League semi-final defeat by United's rivals and neighbours Manchester City.

United are in action on Tuesday night against Leicester - managed, of course, by note-taker Rodgers before they meet Liverpool on Thursday in a rearranged Premier League clash.