What Does It Take To Be Great Again? Philosophy Of The Greatest Manager In United's History!

The Mentality of Champions: Lessons from Sir Alex Ferguson

We are the luckiest team in the World.

''Miller and McLeish won the cup for Aberdeen. Miller and McLeish played Rangers themselves. They were a disgrace of a performance. And I'm not caring, winning cups doesn't matter. Our standards have been set long ago and we're not going to accept that from any Aberdeen team. No way should we take any glory from that.''

These were famous shocking words from the 41-year-old manager that wasn't content at all, no matter the fact that he single-handedly took his beloved Aberdeen to a domestic cup win against a dominant Rangers team—just 10 days after defeating Real Madrid in Gothenburg (former Champions League).

The mentality was very much out of this world and not understandable for coaches nowadays, many of whom would be overly satisfied with simply winning no matter how bad the statistical data might be against them.

This interview speaks volumes—it speaks character and determination that was gradually built into the blood of upcoming Manchester United generations of footballers.

After 'Busby's Babies' came 'Fergie's Army.' On the 6th of November 1986, the contract was signed. Ferguson became the main man at the red side of Manchester.

Garry Neville, for SkySports Retro, had an interesting interview a couple of years ago with Sir Alex and asked him to elaborate on the importance of emphasizing the word 'RISK' in the dressing room. Sir Alex had this to say:

"If you are playing for this club, a risk should always be there. There is no point in fluffing about in the midfield with a few passes and not getting the ball in the box because you are not going to score from the 40 yards. Risk is to shove people in the box because the other team reacts to that. 3 or 4 guys in the box and the breakaway or a counter-attack comes fairly easily. We lost a couple of games like that. But I remember... I think it was Newcastle, last kick of the game you scored in injury time. You remember the dressing room? It was electric. The fans can't wait to get home to a pub, or to tell their wives and kids how it was at Old Trafford to score in the last minute. That is the value of the risk."

Since then, the club isn’t the same.

Struggles with ownership, new managers, new players, the stadium, and too many more issues... if you keep counting, the possibility of falling asleep is higher than us winning the next game.

As shameful as it sounds, the harsh reality—or "the storm," as current manager Ruben Amorim mentioned—is dealing damage with its punches.

I picture the club's current state with a metaphor I thought of:

A boat is starting to sink. One man jumped from the deck and was holding onto all his belongings, grasping for air. The stuff he has in his arms is weighing him down to the rock bottom. He is underwater but sees light, he sees a rescue boat and a hand offering him a way up. He has a decision to make. Either he lets go of things that made him who he is now—certain memories or decisions—and survives (those will be forgotten and fade away) or he never lets go and dies.

I perceive Manchester United as that man, if it is imaginable.

A club that is slowly destroying its history and reputation through a lack of fast decision-making skills. A club that doesn't want to let go of certain ideas in order to save their existence.

Imagine this:

• A club where one player is paid ￡350,000 per week (the most expensive player), sitting on the bench due to his incapability of running, shooting, or passing—all basic traits of even a semi-professional player, let alone a person with an established name in football.
• A club where the Christmas party was canceled for workers within the club's organization to save some extra funds.

Of course, the club I am talking about is Manchester United.

Something has to change. Fans deserve it. WRITTEN BY: SIMEON CONJAGIC