Sir Alex Ferguson’s ability to motivate his Manchester United side for a big match was unrivalled.
It is not a coincidence that Sir Alex Ferguson won a staggering 38 trophies during his 27-year spell as Manchester United manager.
Not only United’s best-ever manager, but the best manager to ever grace football. Ferguson won 13 Premier League titles with the Red Devils, and United have not won any since his retirement in 2013.
Ferguson wanted to win more European titles at United, and Ferguson was ‘distraught’ when his side were knocked out by Real Madrid in his final ever season after an unjust red card to Nani.
However, he did win two Champions League trophies with United. The first came in the 1999 treble season, and the second in 2008 when United lifted the cup in Moscow.
Photo credit should read ANDREW YATES/AFP via Getty Images
Photo credit should read ANDREW YATES/AFP via Getty Images
Sir Alex Ferguson’s legendary 2008 Champions League team talk
According to ex-players, Ferguson’s communication skills were excellent – he had the ability to motivate each player individually by getting to know them personally according to Gary Neville.
After winning the Premier League in 2008, United headed to Moscow for the Champions League final and Michael Carrick recalled Ferguson’s team talk on the day.
Speaking to BBC Sport, Carrick said: “It was a huge night for us Moscow because it was the 50th anniversary of Munich and what the history meant.
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“It was incredible how he would put that across to us.
“It would be about life, about family, it was always about working hard and being proud to work hard. Going into Moscow there was a lot of that.
Rio Ferdinand played all 120 minutes in Moscow before United beat Chelsea 6-5 on penalties. Speaking about Ferguson’s team talk, he added: “You think about great football managers and you think all of their team talks before big moments would be about the game and opponents and the situation we’re in now.
“Some of his best team talks were about something totally far left.
“He loved the fact that he had working-class guys in that changing room, because that was him.
“He went around the room talking about the background and the struggle to get to where we are now. So how can you not give me 90 minutes of your life now?
“I wanted to get up and run through doors.”
Wayne Rooney also explained some of the topics Ferguson discussed in the dressing room: “For me, that was his best team talk because he was tapping into you as a human being.
“He spoke about the poverty in Russia, fighting just to live every day and to eat. How lucky we were to be playing at this stage. It humbled all of us.”
Man United fans get a glimpse at Sir Alex Ferguson team talk
United fans got a glimpse into Ferguson’s dressing room antics when he gave his final team talk in Michael Carrick’s testimonial in 2017.
Many of the players in that match also featured in the Champions League-winning squad in 2008, and it is visible just how much respect Ferguson demanded from his players.
As reported by Manchester Evening News, United players were also shocked by Ferguson’s half-time team talk during the 1999 Champions League final when they entered the break a goal down.
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David Beckham claimed that Ferguson “didn’t say much” in the dressing room, while Peter Schmeichel recalls the Scotsman saying: “When you walk back out, have a look at that trophy, the way you play, you are nowhere near winning it and you will never get to touch it”.
On both occasions – 1999 and 2008 – Ferguson’s team talks made an impact and United ended up bringing the cup back to Manchester.