Scottish Daily Mail

Sir Alex out of intensive care and still talking of football

- By Isabella Fish

SIR Alex Ferguson is out of intensive care after he suffered a brain haemorrhag­e at the weekend.

The legendary Manchester United manager was taken to Salford Royal Hospital after a fall at his Cheshire home on Saturday.

Yesterday, the club tweeted: ‘Sir Alex no longer needs intensive care and will continue rehabilita­tion as an in-patient.

‘His family have been overwhelme­d by the level of support and good wishes but continue to request privacy as this will be vital during this next stage of recovery.’

Friends said Sir Alex, 76, had been ‘sitting up talking and asking about his results’ two days after emergency brain surgery.

On Tuesday, it emerged that the first words he uttered after the major brain operation were: ‘So, how did Doncaster get on?’

His son Darren is manager of Doncaster Rovers, who hosted Wigan in their final match of the season – and lost 1-0.

Darren missed the game to be by his father’s bedside alongside his mother Cathy and brothers Jason and Mark.

A source told the Sun: ‘Typical Sir Alex – he can’t stop talking

‘Rearrangin­g his diary’

football. He’s very chipper and his prognosis is good. He’s already rearrangin­g his diary.’

Sir Alex also joked about flying to Kiev in two weeks for the Champions League final – minutes after being brought out of an induced coma. He apparently said: ‘Aye, the cup final is out – but what about Kiev?’

‘Of course he’d love to be at Kiev on May 26 to see his former star player Cristiano Ronaldo in action for Real Madrid against Liverpool’, a club source said.

‘Ronaldo sees Sir Alex as a father figure. But Sir Alex needs plenty of rest and will have to follow his consultant’s strict instructio­ns to recover fully.’

His family are said to be ‘pleased and extremely encouraged’ by his progress as he remains in a stable condition in hospital.

Sir Alex is believed to have suffered a subarachno­id haemorrhag­e, which can be confused with a stroke and may cause similar speech loss and paralysis.

He led United to 38 trophies between 1986 and 2013 – and won the European Cup Winners’ Cup with Aberdeen in 1983.

Sport – Page 82

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