Sir Alex Ferguson autobiography overview: Tackling rival managers, the England job - and how Gerrard and Lampard are not top, top players By GLENN MOORE Tuesday 22 October 2013 Independent.co.uk Ferguson is respectful to Arsène Wenger, friendly about Jose Mourinho, but critical of Rafael Benitez. It is no secret that Ferguson and Benitez did not get on, but it was not just the Spaniards personality Ferguson did not warm to. His teams, he remarks, had no coherent strategy, they were unimaginative and dull, and Benitez was more interested in destroying a game than winning it. To Ferguson, a believer in attacking football, these are damning faults. Ferguson, who doesnt remember meeting Benitez when he came to watch United train as a guest of Steve McClaren while still working in Spain, says Benitezs mistake was to turn the rivalry personal because Ferguson, with years of trophies behind him, could wait while Benitez needed to win things. As of the famous facts press conference, the facts, said Ferguson, were wrong. Benitez, says Ferguson, was a control freak and one who had no interest in forming friendships with other managers though many younger ones would have like to learn from him. If the first allegation is a bit rich coming from Ferguson the latter reflects his interest in helping the professions rookies. However, Ferguson grudgingly admits Benitez has his strengths. That players worked hard for him, that he has the self-belief a manager needs, and that he was, in a back-handed compliment, a skilled pragmatist. Mourinho is also called a pragmatist, but it is part of a warm portrayal. Ferguson once told the Independent he saw himself in Mourinho and it is clear he likes the younger mans personality, suggests he can laugh at himself, and admires his relationship with players, approach to matches and ability. In particular, he says he was absorbed by Mourinhos challenge at Real Madrid whose Galactico entertainment-focussed policy ran so counter to Mourinhos methods. There is not, however, any discussion of Mourinho thwarted hopes of following him at Old Trafford. His relationship with Arsene Wenger, said Ferguson, is now cordial, but there was a period around Pizzagate when it was frosty. Wengers brain, he says, was scrambled after that 2004 defeat for his Invincibles. Challenged by Ferguson for confronting Ruud van Nistelrooy after the game Wenger was livid and had his fists clenched [Ferguson actually revealed to The Independent some months afterwards that Wenger came at him with fists raised]. Ferguson said he still has no idea who threw the pizza which ended up all over me but notes that Cesc Fabregas has usually been blamed. He and Wenger eventually made up, to the extent Ferguson was pleased United did not score more goals in the 8-2 win in 2011 as Wenger was being huimiliated He always admired the way Wengers teams played, and has never thought he would leave Arsenal. But he feels Wenger was too sensitive about players being tackled and signed too many players in the mould of Tomas Rosicky and Andrei Arshavin, and in recent years too many average ones. There is a dig, too, when Aaron Ramsey says he went to Arsenal because they produce more home-grown players. Ferguson points out that, Jack Wilshere aside, Arsenal hone players signed young from elsewhere whereas United develop their own. * England Ferguson reveals he was offered the England managers job twice, in 1999, in the wake of Glenn Hoddles departure, and two years later, after Kevin Keegan, who had replaced Hoddle, quit. England then turned to Sven Goran Eriksson. Had he taken the job the first time United might never have achieved the treble, but there was never any likelihood of it. There was no way I could have taken that, he said yesterday. It didnt take me long [to say no], 10 seconds. There was no way I could manage England. Think of me going back to Scotland! He would not, he admits, have relished dealing with the press, which he regards as a special requirement for England managers. * Rival players Ferguson did not feel Steven Gerrard was a top, top player, nor regard Frank Lampard as an elite international player, though he regarded both as high class club players. The combination of the two, he adds, was a nightmare for successive managers of England as they team did not function if they were paired in a 4-4-2. Ferguson tried to sign Gerrard when given the impression in 2004 that he wanted to leave Liverpool. However, it seemed Gerrard was Chelsea-bound when, writes Ferguson in a phrase that raises more questions than it answers, there seemed to be some restraining influence from people outside the club and the deal was called off. Michael Owen, he writes, would have been one of the great strikers if he had joined United at 12 years old, intimating he would have been developed more carefully and skillfully rather than overplayed when young. Owen he wished he had signed earlier. Fernando Torres he tried to sign several times and was surprised when Liverpool got him. He had, says Ferguson, cunning, a shrewdness that was borderline Machievellian and a touch of evil. He also had a devastating change of pace but did not react well in adversity. Other players he admits got away in the transfer market: Ronaldinho, Petr Cech, at 19, for £1m, Paolo Di Canio, who wanted too much money, Tim Cahill. Paolo Maldini he enquired after - I loved him, a fantastic player, he said yesterday, adding, I made an approach to his father, [ex-Italy coach] Cesare, and he gave me a look that meant I didnt need to go back. Kenny Dalglishs signings in his second period at Liverpool do not fare well. The pace, courage and £20m fee of Stuart Downing is criticised, the gait of Jordan Henderson raises concerns about his long-term fitness, and Andy Carrolls poor mobility limits his effectiveness. As for his favourite foreign player (of those who did not play for United): Gianfranco Zola. David Beckham thought he was bigger than me and manager blames Victorias influence for their falling out. By SAM WALLACE Tuesday 22 October 2013 Sir Alex Ferguson is damning in his verdict of David Beckham, accusing the former England captain of giving up the chance of a being a top-level footballer and, in his last few years at Manchester United, openly disobeying his manager. Over an 11-page chapter in Ferguson’s autobiography dedicated to Beckham, Ferguson accuses his former player of thinking “he was bigger than Sir Alex Ferguson”. He writes: “It doesn’t matter whether it’s Alex Ferguson or Pete the Plumber. The name of the manager is irrelevant. The authority is what counts ... that was the death knell for him.” Later, in his press conference, when asked about the influences that changed Beckham, Ferguson said: “The big problem for me ... he fell in love with Victoria and that changed everything. In the book, Ferguson recalls one episode when he turned up at the club’s Carrington training ground to encounter a large group of photographers outside. When he asks his staff what they are there for he is told that there is a rumour that Beckham has a new haircut. Following that, he said Beckham refused to remove a hat he was wearing at a team dinner, despite his manager insisting on it. The following day as the players went out to warm-up for a game away to Leicester City, Ferguson said that he discovered Beckham was preparing to go out with the beanie hat still on his head. He insisted that Beckham removed it – the player had shaved his head – and said that the player “went berserk”. Ferguson writes: “The plan was that he would keep the beanie hat on and take it off just before kick-off. At that time I was starting to despair of him. I could see him being swallowed up by the media or publicity agents.” What might be most difficult for Beckham to accept will be Ferguson’s overall assessment that he “lost the chance to become an absolute top-dog player.” He writes: “after the change [in Beckham] he never attained the level where you would say: that is an absolute top player.” Later he adds, “His [Beckham’s] eye was off the ball. A shame because he could still have been at Manchester United when I left. He would have been one of the greatest Man United legends.” What really happened in the dressing room between me, a flying boot, and David Beckham. By JACK DE MENEZES Tuesday 22 October 2013 Sir Alex Ferguson has revealed the reasons why David Beckham had to leave Manchester United, and what actually happened in the dressing room when David Beckham was struck with a football boot just above his left eye. The former Manchester United manager has explained the situation in his book, claiming that the England captain at the time had brought on the incident himself. Goldenballs, as Beckham was affectionately known, had been linked with a move away from United throughout the season, and the Scottish manager admitted that both he and the coaching staff could see that the right midfielder was no longer maintaining the intensity that saw he rise to stardom. Having lost in the FA Cup in February 2003, Ferguson was furious with his side’s performance, with Beckham being singled out in particular. “In his final season with us, we were aware that Davids work rate was dropping and we had heard rumours of a flirtation between Real Madrid and Davids camp,” Ferguson explained. “The main issue was that his application level had dropped from its traditionally stratospheric level. ”He was around 12 feet from me. Between us on the floor lay a row of boots. David swore. I moved towards him, and as I approached I kicked a boot. It hit him right above the eye. Of course he rose to have a go at me and the players stopped him. Sit down, I said. Youve let your team down. You can argue as much as you like.’” Although the matter happened in the changing room away from the prying eyes of the public, it wasn’t long before the cut was – predictably – picked up on, first by the media, and then by fans worldwide with a bust-up immediately reported between player and manager. “The next day the story was in the press,” Ferguson continued. “In public an Alice band highlighted the damage inflicted by the boot. It was in those days that I told the board David had to go. “My message would have been familiar to board members who knew me. The minute a Manchester United player thought he was bigger than the manager, he had to go. I used to say, The moment the manager loses his authority, you dont have a club. The players will be running it, and then youre in trouble.” Given the tension between the two boiling over, it was no surprise that Beckham joined Real Madrid that summer after Ferguson decided he had to go. Cristiano Ronaldo was the greatest player I ever worked with By JACK DE MENEZES Tuesday 22 October 2013 Sir Alex Ferguson has labelled Cristiano Ronaldo as “the most gifted player” that he worked with during his career, praising the winger that he sold for £80m as a “great” that only a select few could get close to. Written in his book which was released today, the legendary former Manchester United manager claimed that only Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes could be placed anywhere near Ronaldo out of all the players he worked with. “Cristiano was the most gifted player I managed,” Ferguson wrote. “He surpassed all the other great ones I coached at United - and I had many. “The only ones who could be placed near him would be a couple of the home-produced players, Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs, because they contributed so prodigiously to Manchester United for two decades.” Despite this, it was Ferguson that agreed to let him head to Spain, when Real broke the world transfer record for the second time in the summer of 2009 following the £56m acquisition of Kaka. The Scot explains that the signing was a symbol of Real’s self-requirement to dominate all other teams, and Ferguson reveals that it was the Portuguese winger himself who tried to force through a move the year before. “Real Madrid paid £80m in cash for him [in 2009] and do you know why?” continued Ferguson. “It was a way for Florentino Perez, their president, to say to the world: We are Real Madrid, we are the biggest of the lot. “Ramon Calderon, Perezs predecessor, had claimed the previous year that Cristiano would one day be a Real Madrid player. “I went to Carlos Queirozs house in Portugal to find the boy expressing an urge to go to Real Madrid, and told him: You cant go this year, not after the way Calderon has approached this issue. I said: I know you want to go to Real Madrid but Id rather shoot you than sell you to that guy now. If you perform, dont mess us about, and someone comes and offers a world record fee, then we will let you go’.” Having dealt with transfer dilemmas throughout his illustrious career – not just player sales but also players he wanted to buy – Ferguson accepted that he did well to persuade Ronaldo to remain at Old Trafford for one more year. “I did well to calm him down. I told him the reason I was refusing to sell him that year was because of Calderon,” he explained. “I said: If I do that, my honours gone, everythings gone for me, and I dont care if you have to sit in the stands. I know it wont come to that, but I just have to tell you I will not let you leave this year.” Rafael Benitez mistakenly decided to turn our sporting rivalry personal. By JACK DE MENEZES Tuesday 22 October 2013 The rivalry between Sir Alex Ferguson and Rafael Benitez was widely-publicised during their time at the top of English football, with the former Manchester United manager claiming that his old adversary was “unwise” to make their feud personal. The two clashed regularly during Benitez’s first spell in England, having managed Liverpool from 2004 until he was dismissed in 2010. Such was the rivalry; comments would be made about the other even when the two weren’t going head-to-head, with each trying to get one over the other in an attempt to assert their dominance in the Premier League title race. In his book, Ferguson has had his say on both Benitez and Liverpool as a club, choosing separate incidents to describe both. “The mistake he [Benitez] made was to turn our rivalry personal,” explained the 13-time Premier League winner. “Once you made it personal, you had no chance, because I could wait. I had success on my side. Benitez was striving for trophies while also taking me on. That was unwise.” Both had won the Champions League after Benitez guided the Reds to their 2005 success in Istanbul, with United having claimed the famous trophy as part of their 1998/99 treble-winning season. Ferguson would go on to win the European Cup again in 2008, beating Chelsea in Moscow, while Benitez oversaw a slow decline in the Merseyside club’s form until he was sacked. Having seen Roy Hodgson come and go in less than a year, Kenny Dalglish returned to the role of head coach having previously guided the club between 1985 and 1991. Dalglish was an old adversary of Ferguson’s, although the former Scotland international had taken a number of years out of management until he was tempted to return to Anfield in a managerial capacity. However, it was an incident between Dalglish’s star striker Luis Suarez and United left-back Patrice Evra that not only soured his reign with the club, but the Premier League as whole as the racism row continued to dominate the headlines for the months after. Upon the initial allegations from Evra that Suarez had racially abused him during their league match on 15 October. Suarez’s team-mates made the astonishing decision to wear training shirts in support of the shamed striker, and Ferguson has been hugely critical of the club for their dealings over the matter. “Liverpool wore those T-shirts supporting Suarez, which I thought was a ridiculous thing for a club of Liverpools stature. I felt we handled it well, mainly because we knew we were in the right. ”The FA asked us several times not to discuss it, but Liverpool would not leave the subject alone. David Gill would not have allowed any manager to handle it in that way.“ Ferguson directly criticised Dalglish for allowing the squad to wear the T-shirts, claiming that a figure such as former Liverpool chief executive Peter Robinson would’ve stopped anything like that should it have arisen. ”The problem I felt was there was no Peter Robinson at Liverpool,” said Ferguson. “He would never have allowed the situation to be handled like it was. “The young directors there idolised Kenny and there was no-one to say: Hey, behave yourself, this is out of order, this is Liverpool Football Club.”
Posted on: Wed, 23 Oct 2013 20:08:46 +0000
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