I spent a third of my life at Old Trafford, but I’m a bit nervous,even tense, about going to see United again
NEW DOCUMENTARY REVEALS A MORE VULNERABLE SIDE TO FIERY SIR ALEX
SIR ALEX FERGUSON cut a ferocious figure at Manchester United over three decades, intimidating opponents and officials with his fierce will to win.
But the legendary former United boss revealed he was nervous about returning to Old Trafford for the first time after suffering a life-threatening brain haemorrhage in 2018.
The revelation is made in a new film, Never Give In, which charts Ferguson’s life and career, as well as chronicling his recovery from the bleed on the brain that nearly killed him.
Directed by his son Jason, the documentary shows a rare vulnerable side to Ferguson (above), who opened up about his anxiety at returning to Old Trafford in September 2018 following surgery.
“The club were going to make a presentation to the fans that I was back,” said Ferguson, who made an emotional return for United’s 1-1 draw with Wolves. “I think the dilemma I had in my own mind was going out in front of 75,000 fans.
“A third of my life was spent at United, creating a certain type of football club, but you’re still walking into a sort of unknown situation for yourself. Somewhere inside you, there’s that doubt.”
Ferguson reveals his fear in footage taken before and during his journey to Old
Trafford for the game. “I’m a bit nervous,” the former United boss admits. “Not nervous but, you know, sort of, how would you put it? Tense, I don’t know, maybe.
“I have a slight concern about going to watch United again in terms of the first time.”
In the film, Ferguson talks candidly about his fear of dying and reveals he experienced recurring dreams during his
Sir Alex’s sons Darren, and new film maker Jason recovery. “In the recovery part, I started to get these dreams and repeated messages,” said Ferguson. “A song kept going through my head – ‘la-la-la, dada-da-da, da-da-da’ – all the time. And then there was another one – ‘And Beckham crosses and it’s a goal’.
“It kept going through my head. Every night. I don’t know why that is. I can’t explain that.
“Maybe Barcelona, the Champions League triumph in 1999. When I got home, all these things were bottling up inside me.
“It was a sort of opening up. You just want to spill it all out.
“When I collapsed that Saturday morning, I had no idea, from that moment on, what happened. People say 2018: THE TRIUMPHANT RETURN
that I was sitting up talking in Macclesfield Hospital, before I went to Salford Royal Hospital, but I don’t remember a thing.
“What you think is, what happens when you die? People suffer cancer and there’s a long period before they do.
“But when it happens like it did to me, they say it’s the best way to go. So I’m not sure, when the moment comes and you do die, whether it’s the best way to go.
“The moments when you’re on your own, that fear and loneliness creeps into your mind. You don’t want to die.
“And that’s where I was at – I’m not going to die, I don’t want to die.
“These things did flash through my mind quite a lot.”
THE Premier League title may still be beyond them, but Manchester United reminded the noisy neighbours they won’t go quietly.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer masterminded his third successive win at the Etihad to end Manchester City’s formidable 28-game unbeaten run in all competitions.
Victory for United may only have reduced City’s lead over them to 11 points, but it provided a timely reminder of their enduring quality, despite frustrating inconsistency.
For United boss Solskjaer (below), it was a vindication of his tactics and approach, after three straight goalless draws had raised legitimate questions about the perceived progress made under him this season.
The win also stretched United’s unbeaten run away in the League to 22 games although, when they can dominate like this, fans are entitled to ask why they cannot win more on the road.
For City, the big question now is how this defeat will impact the rest of their season and their hopes of pulling off an unprecedented quadruple haul of trophies.
The title is still destined for the Etihad, but it remains to be seen how this setback affects their confidence in the other three competitions.
United made the perfect start, awarded a penalty after 34 seconds following a clumsy and needless challenge from Gabriel Jesus on Anthony Martial, as he danced his way across the edge of the area.
Although keeper Ederson got a hand to the ball, there was too much power in the spot-kick from Bruno Fernandes, who took his goal tally to 23 for the season.
It was the first time in 20 league games City had fallen behind – stretching back to November 21 when they lost 2-0 at Spurs – after which they went on their formidable run.
Despite that early setback, City settled into their familiar pattern of possession, with
United forced to sit back and adopt a policy of containment, hoping to hit their opponents on the counter-attack.
Yet for all the hosts’ possession thereafter, United never looked like conceding, due to a combination of their own defensive diligence and City’s wastefulness in the final third.
Although Pep Guardiola’s men created promising openings, they lacked their usual clinical edge when it mattered and provided United with few problems.
Just before the break, Riyad Mahrez slalomed his way past a trio of red shirts, before Ilkay Gundogan picked up the loose ball, only to shoot tamely at Dean Henderson.
And on halftime, Jesus was unable to connect with a drilled Mahrez ball at the far post, as City’s frustration grew with their inability to get back on level terms.
They hit the bar within two minutes of the restart, Rodri striking it after clever build-up play involving Mahrez and Jesus. It proved a costly miss, with United doubling their lead three minutes later.
Henderson’s quick-thinking saw his throw find Luke Shaw, the full-back taking the ball past first Joao Cancelo, then Kevin De Bruyne. Shaw surged into the box and, after exchanging passes with Marcus Rashford, steered a low shot through Rodri’s legs and beyond Ederson into the far corner.
Ederson blocked Martial’s shot in the 68th minute or it could have been even worse for the hosts. It didn’t matter, as United repelled everything City had, which, by the end, was very little.
OLE GUNNAR SOLSKJAER is becoming the ultimate Hokey Cokey manager. He’s in, he’s out, but at least he shook it all about here. Manchester City are so accustomed to facing Damage Limitation Elevens, they did not quite know what to do when faced by a side with a modicum of attacking ambition. It was a gamble from
Solskjaer, one that paid off and one that could put an end to the uncertainty that has been his partner pretty much since he took over as permanent manager.
A derby win does not carry a job-security guarantee but finishing in the top four does. And United should not blow it from here. Never mind bragging rights – that is the most meaningful ramification of this surprise victory.
United’s adventurous approach did not last long after Bruno Fernandes had tucked away that early penalty but the brief flurry had been enough. Ditto for the second half when Luke Shaw’s long-running excellence was rewarded, a moment that actually inspired United to go toe-to-toe. It would be a stretch to call it a masterplan but Solskjaer’s system worked. That City were a little methodical and plodding, by their standards, helped – as did Gabriel Jesus’s less-than-divine intervention – but this was an accomplished United performance.
And a long unbeaten run away from home does not happen by accident. When home teams have an onus to come on to United, they know how to deal with it. And in Harry Maguire, they have a leader and central defender to marshall their resistance. On the deck, in the air, so many City threats were intercepted by the United skipper. And to think there were those who thought Maguire would be scarred by events on a Greek island last summer. He has played every minute of United’s 28 Premier League games this season.
The run of Premier League matches in which United have been unbeaten when leading at half-time now stretches to 103. Maguire has only strengthened their resolve over the past couple of seasons. It has been unsurprising to discover Maguire has been amongst the most vocal of Premier League players.
Quite simply, Old Trafford chief Solskjaer knows he has a leader on the field.
And one who has now surely helped him to rest easy in his role for once.