Remember The Enemy

Wenger speaks in five different languages and is one of the few football managers to have a master’s degree, earned from the Strasbourg University in economices and sociology. Yet Ferguson have never seemed impressed. ”Intelligence! They say he’s an intelligent man, right? Speaks five languages! I’ve got a fifteen-year-old boy from the Ivory Coast who speaks five languages…”

Ferguson is wary about what goes on behind that inscrutable face. For years, he would invite Wenger into his office for a drink after Arsenal had played at Old Trafford, every time, Wenger politely turned it down. Ferguson always took that as a snub. Then Arsenal won the league at Old Trafford in 2002 and suddenl Wenger decided he would like a glass of Manchester United’s wine. Ferguson doesn’t forget things like that.

Nor has he forgotten that Wenger refused to shake his hand after United beat Arsenal in an epic FA Cup semi-final at Villa Park en route to the 1999 treble. When the two managers shake hands these days there is only the briefest contact of flesh.

 

Memories Of The Man I Want To Be…

Respecting A Talented Opponent

”I like Jose,” Ferguson says, ”I see him as the young gunslinger who has come to town to challenge the old sheriff. He has a great sense of humour and there is a devilish wit about him. He’s like me, he speaks his mind. I understand his passion for the club, so there is no problem. We were at a dinner in London the other week for a children’s charity. There was good banter, honest conversation and I enjoy that. We get on well.”

At the final whistle they shake hands straight away. There is even a quick embrace and Ferguson invites Mourinho into his office for a glass of wine. Mourinho has come prepared, with a 200 pound bottle of Portugese red, and for ten minutes they sit together and talk about football and life.

 

Memories Of The Man I Want To Be…

The Mirror

Stam was sold within 2 weeks. ”I rang David Dein at Arsenal and we had a good laugh about it.” Except it didnt stop United winning the league, 10 points clear of Arsenal, and The Mirror has suffered ever since. Morgan’s vendetta drove away United-supporting readers while Ferguson banned the newspaper for several months. Even though he has since let them back in, he hasn’t forgotten how they behanved.

Morgan was sacked in 2004 and 6 months later The mirror’s sports editor, Dean Morse, approached Ferguson, at a lunch to celebrate his 1000th game as manage, and politely asked if there was anything he could do to improve the relationship between newspaper and club.

”Yes”, Ferguson replied, smiling. ”You can fuck off and die.”

 

Memories Of The Man I Want To Be…

Tony Sinclair

He is an expert when it comes to what goes to make an acceptable football pitch – how much water should be applied, how much sunshine is needed, the perfect length of grass. It is one of his specialist subjects and it drives him to distraction when United have to play on a rutted, pockmarked pitch where the ball will not run straight.

Sometimes, when we are finishing in the Old Trafford pressbox, an hour or so after a game, we will see him stride out on to the grass to run his eye over the playing surface, like a forensic scientist looking for clues at a murder scene. On one occasion, we saw him haranguing the head groundsman, Tony Sinclair, on the day he received the club’s Employee of the Year award. Sinclair looked distinctly uncomfortable as Ferguson fastidiously examined the goalmouth in front of the Stretford End, pulling up the blades of grass and holding them to his face – even sniffing them.

 

Memories Of The Man I Want To Be…

Right Off Their Fucking Perch!

Meeting Ferguson for a prearranged interview is certainly very different from seeing him at a run-of-the-mill friday press conference. He has an extraordinary mind and, quite often, he will have a little nugget stored up for the interviewer, something that he knows will make a good headline.

His last one-on-one with the Guardian included the immortal quote that his greatest achievement was knocking Liverpool ”right off their fucking perch”, in response to comments that Alan Hansen had made in his Daily Telegraph column. Ferguson gave a dramatic pause that Al Pacino would be proud of, then turned to his interviewer, Michael Walker, and exclaimed: ” And you can print that.” Journalistic gold dust.

 

Memories Of A Man I Want To Be…

Hairdryer

”And the hairdryer tag? It was started by Mark Hughes. I can understand it because of my policy in the dressing room. When somebody challenges me in there, I have to go for them. That’s me, you know. I believe you cannot avoid the confrontation.”

There was nothing wrong, he said, in losing your temper. ”You still have to create a little spark sometimes. If it’s in your nature to lose your temper, let it out. Don’t keep it bottled up otherwise you can end up growling and kicking dorrs and not getting across what you actually feel. I’ve thrown more teacups across the dressing room than i can tell you. But as far as i’m concerned, anger is not a problem. Losing your temper is OK – as long as you do it for the right reasons.”

 

Memories Of The Man I Want To Be…

Football Writers Association

Ferguson has turned down the invitation to the Football Writers Association dinner. He has his own take on what the F and W stand for in FWA. He used to be a regular guest at FWA functions. It is sad if the biggest bane in the business is no longer willing to break bread with the news agencies.

Otherwise there is a good turnout of managers – even England’s head coach, Sven Goran Eriksson – but it is never quite the same when Ferguson doesn’t turn up and they are just as disappointed as we are. Ferguson is a committee member of the League Managers Association and, with one or two exceptions, it is difficult to overstate the esteem with which he is held among his fellow managers. He will go out of his way to make himself available if an LMA manger needs advice. He will often ring a struggling maanger, someone he may hardly even know, if he senses they are going through a bad time. Letters of congratulation are sent to promotion-winning managers. Or a sympathetic note will go to someone who has just lost his job or been relegated. Ferguson may regard Liverpool as a mortal enemy but that did not stop him writing to Rafael Benitez at the end of last season to congratulate him for returning the European Cup to Anfield.

 

Memories Of The Man I Want To Be…