WHY IS FERGIE SILENT ON THE GLAZERS?
Knighton calls out United legend
attitude to realise what it’s all about. It’s not about shaking hands in the tunnel or at the halfway line before the start.
“When I played for United against Liverpool, my big pal Kenny Dalglish was in the Liverpool team. I didn’t go shaking his hand, I wouldn’t even speak to him in the tunnel. He was there trying to beat me, my team, my club and take my win bonus away from me.
“I was out to make sure that didn’t happen. He wasn’t interested in me. Afterwards, we would be in the players’ lounge having a sandwich and a cup of tea or whatever. I wouldn’t go out that night if we hadn’t won. It was so different to now.”
Macari doesn’t believe the current United side will suffer the same relegation fate as the 1973-74 Tommy Docherty team he played in, especially with Erik ten Hag at the helm.
“There is no comparison between now and when we were relegated,” he said. “It was more of a level playing field, with everyone capable of beating everyone else.
“If this team buck up their ideas, they could once again be competing at the other end of the table.”
Macari believes that United boss Ten Hag should follow the example of Arsenal’s Mikel Arteta as he attempts to breathe new life into his ailing side.
He said: “Anyone who thinks it’s an impossible job should just look back 12 months because I remember seeing Arsenal play and saying on TV that Mikel Arteta had a real fight on his hands to get them going.
“They had too many bad apples, they had too many players not giving their all. His job was on the line. Look at it now – he has turned it around. His main job was to bring in some good players and to get rid of the bad characters.
“I never thought he would be able to do it, but I’ve got to hold my hands up to Arteta. They are now a different proposition.
“It’s an example for Ten Hag, who is the right man for the job.
“Forget talk of relegation. Take a leaf out of Arteta’s book, get rid of players who don’t want to know and bring in players who are up for it. I’m optimistic this guy can turn things around.”