The legendary Red Devils coach: The road to success

Chapter 43 Starting a War

"The team locker room is the center of power in the club. It determines the relationship between the coach and the players, whether the team is united or divided, and whether the team is motivated or degraded. There will never be any secrets in the locker room, because everyone is naked and honest here, and because there must be clear power and order here."

--Inscription

At the end of 1986, Ferguson took the initiative to launch a "war", a "war" specifically against the red devil's bad habits and bad atmosphere.

Ferguson's high pressure and strict management in the Red Devils, and the strict enforcement of the alcohol ban, were not surprising to players like Strachan who had already dealt with Ferguson. Strachan even felt that Ferguson was still a little too gentle, not like the coach who had changed the situation in the Scottish League before.

Strachan said, "I thought Alex would use thundering methods as soon as he came to the Red Devils. He has always been so tough and strict. The players must show a positive and brave attitude and must have enough tenacious fighting spirit. Alex is a coach who personally takes care of everything. He not only pays close attention to the players' games, but also pays attention to the players' performance on the training ground, in the locker room, and in daily life."

Albiston later recalled, "We have been discussing the new coach. It is said that he has a violent temper and is a very scary person. It is true. Alex has a very tough personality, very strict standards, and a very bad temper. He always curses, and everyone is afraid at first."

Albiston said: "I actually remember the scene when Alex first came to the Red Devils. To be honest, many people couldn't believe it. Alex was very polite when he first came, spoke very low-key, had a good attitude, and looked very gentle. He changed his attitude when he talked to the whole team for the first time, but it was different from the strict management later. When he was confirming the players' appearance list, he specially consulted Robson and me for advice and suggestions, and he didn't suddenly get angry after losing the first game."

"But I think that might just be an illusion, not the real Ferguson."

The loss to Wimbledon was a critical moment. Ferguson had been patient for a long time, and he could no longer bear it. A coach like him who had won so many awards had a high opinion of himself, and it was impossible for him to accept a crushing defeat to a newly promoted team without any hesitation, nor could he easily accept losing two games in four games, with only one draw and one loss, and these opponents were all ordinary people.

Ferguson's old friend and then assistant Knox said: "Alex did have some illusions about the Red Devils at the beginning. He came to an unfamiliar league and thought that he would be polite first and then use force. He did not intend to be vicious and tear his face from the beginning. But the situation was so bad that the players themselves broke Ferguson's bottom line of tolerance. You know, even at St. Mirren, like the performance of the Red Devils players in the game against Wimbledon, he must have regretted his parents giving birth to him when facing Ferguson's scolding."

Ferguson's drastic measures came as expected, and conflicts were brewing in the locker room.

Ferguson directly raised the threshold of the locker room. Only he, the players and the first-team coaching staff could enter and leave the locker room freely. All outsiders except the players and special staff were refused to visit, and outsiders were not allowed to enter and leave the core area of ​​the club at will.

Ferguson really couldn't understand why the Red Devils' dressing room looked like a bar, a banquet hall, a parent-child activity venue, an advertising conference site, but not like a dressing room. Players could bring in relatives and friends at will, club staff could bring in and out at will, officials could use the dressing room at will, and even the Manchester City fan and the club's bus driver could sit and listen when Ferguson deployed tactics and announced the starting lineup.

The Red Devils players lost the locker room, and some of them found it hard to accept. The players knew they couldn't talk back to the coach, but some well-connected players went around Ferguson and complained directly to the management. Some old-timers pretended to obey but didn't work hard. Some people started to complain to the fans and the media. They even made strange remarks, saying that Ferguson was not suitable for the Red Devils and hoped to drive him out of Old Trafford.

They were soon disappointed. Edwards and others firmly supported Ferguson, and the original leader of the locker room also voted for Ferguson.

He is captain Bryan Robson.

Bryan Robson has an incomparable lofty status and is a leader recognized by the players, but after Ferguson came to the Red Devils, he immediately did a good job of united front work with Robson and obtained Robson's recognition and cooperation.

Ferguson was clearly aware of Robson's true role in the Red Devils, and he was also very clear that Robson had integrity, was open and aboveboard, and was fair and worthy of his trust.

Robson called his teammates together to discuss the matter. Many of them complained and boycotted and slandered the coach.

Robson was amused. "We can't allow the players to continue to deepen the conflict with Ferguson, let alone internal strife and split. This is unacceptable to the Red Devils." Robson stated his position in a serious manner, that is, he would stand with whoever is truly good for the Red Devils and working hard for the Red Devils. He hoped that everyone would understand that now is a time to tide over the difficulties together, and everyone should work hard for the same goal, think in the same direction, and work together.

Robson had a detailed talk with Ferguson for the first time. He said: "I will never forget the conversation between Ferguson and me. He was not too excited, but his eyes were shining when he spoke, and the whole person was full of power. I think he came with passion and ideals, and had a very good long-term plan for how to lead the Red Devils. He also has great ability and a tough attitude. This is the most critical point for things to change."

Robson later said, "I must support him, even if it's just for myself. I know the attitude of the board. Ferguson is not responsible even if the team is really relegated, but it will be a disaster for the Red Devils. As the captain of the team, I am ashamed to face people. Now my teammates are still thinking about fighting against the situation, but once Ferguson's butcher knife is raised, many people will inevitably sacrifice - those players who violate Ferguson's discipline and do not meet Ferguson's requirements, their fate is self-evident."

Robson decided to support his manager. He publicly expressed his support for the ban on alcohol, a series of decisions on team discipline, and Ferguson's strict standards, and personally assisted in the strict management of the team.

For Ferguson, the battle for the right to speak in the dressing room had already been won when Robson chose to support him.

In this war, Ferguson has "direct descendants" like Strachan, supporters like Albiston, all members of the coaching staff, the vast majority of staff, and the entire management, so he is confident of winning.

Strachan said: "In the beginning, I was considered to be Ferguson's most loyal believer, but in fact I was not at that time. You know, I took the initiative to leave Aberdeen and 'escape' from Ferguson. But I know Alex's way of doing things and I agree with his management philosophy, so it is not wrong to say that I am his supporter. I don't think Alex's requirements are excessive. In fact, he has done such a job once in Aberdeen. At that time, Aberdeen was still in a thriving stage. He still used the same three-pronged approach, was extremely strict in management, and was also extremely rigorous in details."

"Alex knows he has to control the dressing room. Even in his failed experience at St Mirren, he managed the dressing room very well, not to mention the successful Aberdeen team. I am not surprised that he has implemented an iron fist in the Red Devils. If there is any doubt, it is to see whether he can implement it to the end and succeed in the end."

The Red Devils also had several guys who were not easy to mess with. They always advocated self-management in the locker room, did not accept the coach's authority in the locker room, and did not respect Ferguson. The Sun soon published an interview with a "so-called big-name" Red Devils player, who believed that the coach should be gentle, fully respect the players, implement humane management, and let the team gradually recover in a united atmosphere.

Ferguson scoffed at this and didn't even want to dig deep to find out who the "traitor" was in the team. However, some of Ferguson's strict management measures revealed by The Sun unexpectedly received strong support from the Red Devils fans. Several local Red Devils fans came to the club specifically to express their support for Ferguson and asked him to continue to strictly manage and completely change the team's atmosphere.

Rational Red Devils fans know that Ferguson is not perfect, but without such strict management, even if the Red Devils would not sink and be relegated this season, there would be absolutely no way out for the team. Without changing the team's ethos, the team would have absolutely no way out.

The strict management was like a major earthquake to the Red Devils. Many players underwent profound changes under Ferguson's strict orders. Some players resisted forcefully, while others could not withstand it and eventually had to leave.

Ferguson said, "My temper has always been like this: It's okay to play badly, but you can never be a spineless person. My players can make mistakes, but they can never shirk responsibility after making mistakes, or fail to improve after making mistakes."

Bailey, who started playing for the Red Devils in 1978, is a veteran in the team, but he got into trouble in his first game for Ferguson. In the next five games, he became the target of Ferguson's criticism, which made him feel ashamed.

Bailey recalled: "In the away game against Luton, a ball fell between me and Gibson. I shouted 'clear!' But Gibson did not move, and the opponent grabbed the ball and scored. At the end of the game, Ferguson stared at me with flaming eyes and roared, 'Are you only able to yell like a woman? Why don't you rush up to grab the ball? That's your position. You can only yell nonsense, you are a coward!' This scolding made me depressed for a long time..."

Ferguson certainly didn't let Gibson go, "That's your ball! You don't need anyone to remind you. You should rush to clear the ball immediately in that situation. Why the hell do you care what others say!"

Star players also had an easy time. Strachan once caused Ferguson's wrath by not returning to defense as required by the tactics, and even provoked Ferguson in the locker room for not knowing how to respond tactically.

"Ferguson was just going to kill him!" Severbeck recalled.

Ferguson was so angry that he grabbed a tea tray and threw it at Strachan during the half-time break. Strachan quickly dodged and the hot tea spilled, scalding a bunch of players so that they hid everywhere.

Other unlucky players include Albiston and Barnes, whose Red Devils careers ended quickly. Barnes was very sad when he left the Red Devils, although Ferguson helped him find a new club and gave him a salary increase. Barnes said: "I was very sad because Alex said I didn't meet the team's standards. I can't blame the coach, he was talking from the perspective of the team, but I really wanted to play for the Red Devils."

Albiston played for the Red Devils for 14 years and only played a handful of games under Ferguson. He left in a very cool manner. He said, "I don't hate Ferguson. I'm old enough to say goodbye. It's not Ferguson's fault that I left the Red Devils. I have a lot of love for the Red Devils. I'm very happy to see the team realize the dream of revival under Ferguson's leadership."