Premier League legend Andy Cole has lifted the lid on the intense training sessions during his time at Manchester United, where the 'yellow jersey of shame' was introduced for poor performers
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Andy Cole speaks during the Premier League Hall of Fame 2024 Inductions event at HERE at Outernet
Andy Cole has revealed a bizarre forfeit at Manchester United(Image: Tom Dulat, Getty Images for Premier League)
Andy Cole has said that the poorest performing Manchester United player had to wear a 'yellow jersey of shame' in training.
The former striker, who is now 53, reminisced about his stint at the club from 1995 to 2001 under Sir Alex Ferguson on the Rio Ferdinand Presents podcast with Joel Beya. Cole described the training sessions as incredibly intense, explaining: "Man United, the intensity of the training was mad. Mad.
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"It was mad because the mentality of each individual was, 'If you lost a training game you would be fixed'. What we did then was we brought out the yellow jersey, yeah? So once the yellow jersey come out...the worst player, you used to give them the yellow jersey.
"So the next week, they've got to wear the yellow jersey." When Ferdinand probed about who often ended up in the jersey, Cole named Gary Pallister, simply stating: "Pally," reports the Manchester Evening News. Despite the pressure, Cole said the players thrived under this system: "We loved it because you knew then yeah?
"Training, you had to be on it because no one wanted to wear that jersey at the end of the week. Nobody. And man would get real vexed saying, 'Nah man, I'm not wearing that'. You've been voted so you've got to wear it.
"So imagine you've got to wear that for the week? It's like people are upset. The intensity in training was always nuts." Ferdinand, who enjoyed a stellar 12-year spell at Old Trafford from 2002 to 2014, didn't cross paths with Cole at United as he arrived a year after Cole's departure.
However, during England meet-ups, the centre-half was always curious about life at Manchester United. He said: "Remember when I used to go to England, yeah? And I'd sit there and I used to sit on the table sometimes or I'd be somewhere and I'd go to them like, 'What's it like at Man United, Andy? What's it like there?'.
Andy Cole of Manchester United during training at The Cliff in Manchester
Andy Cole has explained a bizarre forfeit that was implemented at Manchester United
"And the way you used to talk about Man United used to half scare me a little bit because you used to build it up so much I'd think, 'Is he lying?'. Like he says, 'The young guys there like Wes Brown and that, the way they crunch everyone in training every day - the energy, that intensity. England training can't even look at it'.
"I used to sit there and think, 'Right, England training is hard - how's Man United? I can't go Man United. I can't go there'." Rigorous training sessions were a cornerstone of Ferguson's legendary reign, which saw the Scottish manager amass an incredible haul of trophies, including 13 Premier League titles, five FA Cups, four League Cups, 10 Charity Shields, and two Champions Leagues over 27 years at the helm.
United fans are feeling a world away from the halcyon days of Ferguson's leadership at present, with their team sat in an unflattering 13th position in the Premier League under new manager Ruben Amorim. The Portuguese tactician assumed control in November after Erik ten Hag was shown the door.
Rio Ferdinand and Sir Alex Ferguson hold up a Manchester United shirt for the press following Rio Ferdinand's signing for the club
Rio Ferdinand was scared by the stories he heard from Andy Cole about Manchester United
Yet, so far, the 40-year-old has struggled to engineer a turnaround with the squad left by his predecessor, and United are staring down the barrel of their worst-ever finish in the English top tier unless they turn things around in their remaining nine fixtures. It comes amidst co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe revealing ambitious 'Project 150' plans, aiming to have United clinch the Premier League crown by its 150th anniversary in 2028.
Nonetheless, these plans haven't escaped scrutiny, with former club icon Nicky Butt expressing scepticism about the feasibility of Ratcliffe's vision. Speaking to The Mail, he said: "That ain't going to happen. It's going to be a long way off, and the most important thing is starting on the right foot.
"Hopefully get this season put to bed because it's been a disaster. What gets me is that everyone expects other clubs to sit still. Newcastle, Liverpool, Chelsea and Arsenal will get better. Man City will definitely get better." Manchester United next face third-place Nottingham Forest at the City Ground on Tuesday.
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