The legendary Red Devils coach: The road to success

Chapter 63 Awakening the Soul

"No one can ignore Ferguson's achievements. The media has to admit Ferguson's outstanding talent, and skeptics have to accept Ferguson's tough character. Ferguson's outstanding ability seems to have awakened Manchester United's long-dead soul and given the team hope for revival."

--Inscription

Ferguson led the team until May, when the English First Division ended. Ferguson's Manchester United was recognized by fans in terms of both points and game scenes. Ferguson's coaching met the most fundamental standards of competitive sports.

In just five months, the results have improved dramatically. This effect has inspired the Red Devils fans, who have begun to change from skeptics to supporters.

Ferguson proved that he could lead Manchester United well, proved that he could make the team capable of playing well, having enough desire to win, enough fighting spirit and resilience, and enough team spirit. Ferguson's Manchester United has completely washed away Atkinson's decadent temperament, and completely washed away the previous decadent state, and completely changed the previous chaotic state without discipline.

Not only Manchester United fans, but the entire English football world has seen that the "soul" of the Red Devils Manchester United has returned.

Ferguson accomplished such a big change in just 6 months. His work won the recognition of the board of directors and the fans. He initially established a good management mechanism, stimulated the team's actual combat ability through high-intensity training, and restored the team's good condition through medical care.

Ferguson's "three fires" brought a huge impact.

Not only that, Ferguson's personality is stimulating, especially for Manchester United players.

Every Manchester United player had heard of Ferguson's violent temper, but no one expected him to be so violent and powerful. His tenacious will to fight to the end, no matter what kind of opponent he faced, had a powerful impact on the team's performance.

Even the most critical fans will admit that the huge difference between Manchester United and Ferguson is almost a reflection of Ferguson's personal characteristics.

Ferguson and Atkinson have very different styles. One indulges the players, while the other is strict. Ferguson is very strict in managing the team. He pays special attention to training, manages the players in all aspects, and also cares about the players' social life. This distinctive "paternalistic" collectivist style quickly makes the team united. Ferguson controls everything in the locker room. The crazy "hair dryer" is terrifying. The players' fear shakes their souls, and they live under Ferguson's control.

All Manchester United players, regardless of whether they are big names or not, regardless of their qualifications, must meet Ferguson's strict standards, comply with Ferguson's tactical commands, and meet the state that Ferguson hopes for.

In just a few months, many Manchester United players were awakened from their confused state by Ferguson's "scolding", and they also improved because of Ferguson's "scolding".

In the media's writing, Ferguson was portrayed as a special person. Angry, stubborn, arrogant, rude, bad-tempered, barbaric, authoritarian, obsessive-compulsive... This energetic Scotsman was given many labels. In the eyes of the media, this tough guy had great courage, but was also extremely arrogant; he had rare stubbornness, but he often changed his formation and playing style; he had strict orders and punishments, but he was also very caring towards the players' families.

"Ferguson is like a burning torch, making everything around him feel light and heat, having a goal, but also feeling danger. Everyone has to adjust or change themselves to adapt to his style." The comment from the Times reporter was insightful.

Manchester Evening News commented: "Ferguson brought about huge changes, earth-shaking changes. He used huge energy to push the team forward, and the 'hair dryer' forced all Manchester United players to move."

The staff of Manchester United Club was most impressed by Ferguson's extraordinary diligence. Ferguson, who was devoted to the club, often stayed at the base and even had to stay in the office overnight because he worked late at night. Robson, Whiteside and youth training director Harrison all remembered that Ferguson started working immediately after arriving at Manchester United. He met all the first-team players on the first day.

Norris, the assistant who followed from Aberdeen, knew it very well. He said: "We experienced Ferguson's madness when we were in Aberdeen. He has an extraordinary love for work and is always in the office and on the training ground. When he first came to Manchester United, Ferguson hardly slept all night. He was very anxious and felt that time was running out. He was always analyzing the opponent's game videos, constantly reading various football newspapers, and always seizing every opportunity to watch the opponent's games in person."

Ferguson's diligence even caused Robson and other players to lose money. Robson went out one night and drank and chatted with his teammates in a bar. The players, who were drunk, began to bet on when Ferguson would get off work, and whether Ferguson would still be working in the office after 12:00 in the middle of the night. Under the influence of alcohol, many people thought that Ferguson would work overtime, but it was impossible for him to be busy in the office so late at night. They completely forgot their previous memories.

As a result, these players drank until 1:00 in the morning and went back one by one to verify the results, only to find that Ferguson was still working overtime in the office.

None of these poor guys guessed correctly, and all the money was won by the security chief of the base!

Ferguson's diligence, in addition to his tireless work on tactics, his hands-on training on the field, and his ability to seize every opportunity when studying his opponents, he also spent his time on all matters related to Manchester United.

"Even during the holidays at the end of the season, Ferguson would pay attention to European games." Edwards, chairman of the board of directors of Manchester United, was surprised. "Ferguson would even study the games of various national teams in depth, and during the breaks in the season, he was very concerned about the games of the European club giants. He was not concerned about Aberdeen, but the giants in the top leagues in Europe. I once asked him, and he told me that Manchester United must set its sights on Europe, and our club will rise again."

Edwards said: "I don't know how to understand Ferguson's words. At that time, I felt that the most important task of the team was to rise again domestically and become a team that could compete for the championship. I have to admit that almost everyone in the club did not understand Ferguson's job."

Manchester United players will find that Ferguson's top priority is the players. He strictly manages the team's training and controls the players' lives. Ferguson's work is also efficient. His team learned the players' details in less than a month and completed a new analysis of the English League One team. Ferguson and his assistants found all the videos of the English League One for the past five seasons, watched them one by one, and rewrote the technical analysis report.

These are of course hard work, but they are the basis for Ferguson to gain a foothold in England and achieve success. He was able to quickly adapt to the English football environment, skillfully use the rules, and even prepare in advance to execute tactics specifically targeting certain special players during the game.

Ferguson soon became an old hand, familiar with referees, the English Football Association, opponents and the media. Ferguson was adept at arguing with referees about various penalties, chatting and laughing with different opposing coaches, and dealing with the media without batting an eyelid.

Ferguson's work was extremely efficient, and within half a season, Manchester United had already been put on the right track. Ferguson urged the players to ensure sufficient training time, effectively increased the players' training intensity, and consciously strengthened the teamwork. When Ferguson first arrived, many players were late for training, and some left early before the afternoon training session or practice match started. These bad phenomena were soon eliminated.

Even the opposing fans or the rivals could not find fault with Ferguson's work. He put all his energy and time into it. A Ferguson who almost never sleeps is certainly terrifying, and this spirit is definitely the key reason why the team has regained its momentum. Not counting overtime, Ferguson's work intensity is also admirable.

Ferguson's normal schedule: wake up at 6:00 a.m., arrive at the club office before 7:7 a.m., start work at 30:13 a.m., take a short lunch break at noon, then start at 30:6 and continue until 00:22 p.m., eat at the base and continue, concentrate on studying game videos, discuss and write analysis reports, and sometimes finish work until 00:16 p.m. If there is a game, the time will last longer, and Ferguson may even devote nearly hours to work.

This is Ferguson who just came to Manchester United. His desperate working intensity is the only guarantee of success.

Giggs recalled many years later, "Manchester United has not always been the league's dominant force. Our team once had a very difficult time. When I first joined Manchester United, I witnessed the team's weakness and malaise. I also saw the team improve bit by bit and saw the team's revival. In Ferguson's first few years at Manchester United, the results were ups and downs, and we were also questioned and blamed, but we all trusted Ferguson very much."

“You can’t deny that a person who works hard will succeed.”

Captain Robson was even more emotional. He believed that Manchester United's rise and the Red Devils' revival were all due to Ferguson.

Robson said: "Only Ferguson could turn a team on the verge of collapse into an invincible and ever-winning team. Why did Manchester United suddenly win the first Premier League title and become the league's dominant force? The answer is not us, but Ferguson's incomparable diligence and hard work. Ferguson gave everything for the team. He was always the first to show up at the training ground and the last to leave, and he did so for 20 years. He had a mentality of constant challenge and a firm goal, leading everyone to keep moving forward."

Robson said: "Without Ferguson, Manchester United would never be the team it is today. He changed everything and promoted the progress of the entire club. Ferguson went all out to do his job well. If he didn't love his job, it would be difficult to achieve such success."

Strachan also admitted that he always respected the boss and admired Ferguson's efforts. Sometimes after playing away games, the team flew back overnight, and the players basically went home at 4 a.m. The next day, they usually had a day off in the morning and resumed training in the afternoon. But Strachan and others would remember very clearly that whenever this happened, Ferguson would always be the one to come to the Manchester United base early the next morning and leave last. Not only that, when Strachan and his teammates were enjoying dinner and enjoying their leisure time freely, Strachan himself knew that Ferguson must still be working overtime.

The scenarios were often hard to believe, but that was Ferguson.

Ferguson has put a lot of effort into coaching Manchester United. He is extremely hardworking and strict. He is extremely strict in management, but full of positive energy. He trains the players to the point of screaming and howling, but at the same time he carefully prepares excellent and effective tactical methods. He always pays attention to motivating the players and constantly strengthens the cohesion of the team. Under such a coach, a group of sheep will become a pack of wolves, and a group of tired teams will become a spirited and brave team.

Manchester United's dormant will, its decadent fighting spirit and its depressed soul were awakened in this way.