Sir Alex Ferguson Returns To United To Restore Faith In The Club

Sir Alex Ferguson is back working at Manchester United as a consultant to bring respect back to the club.

The legendary manager was active in brokering Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s appointment after Jose Mourinho was axed last week.

Solskjaer plans regular contact with his ex-boss, something Mourinho did not do. While Fergie also pulled the strings behind the scenes for the return of his former assistant Mike Phelan.

This is after the Scot suffered a brain haemorrhage earlier in the year – which left him having to endure an emergency operation. 

Executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward, who was desperate to get it right after three managerial failures on his watch, turned to Fergie as he prepared to sack Mourinho in the wake of the 3-1 loss at Liverpool.

An Old Trafford source insists the Scot, who will not be employed in a full-time capacity, had made sure Solskjaer as well as Phelan were prepared to take up their new positions at their former club BEFORE Wednesday’s announcement.

Solskajer described Ferguson as his “mentor” and said he wants his side to play with the same attacking qualities laid down by the legendary former boss.

“It’s about getting every player to the best, speaking to them, the training ground, philosophy, principles, how we want to play,” said Solskjaer, who revealed he has been in touch with Ferguson in the past few days. – Solskajer

“It doesn’t matter what team you’re coaching, they all want to have a picture of how you want to play, they’re all quality players, so it will be easier to get players expressing themselves.

“You play with courage, go out there and express your skills. Sir Alex said ‘go out and express yourselves and take risks’.

“The last game he had as a manager, 5-5 [at West Brom], that was almost the perfect end for him as a manager, and I want the players to be similar, be the kids that love to play football and go out in front of the best fans in the world.

“Sir Alex influenced me with everything, to be fair, the way he’s dealt with people, the way he was manager of the club, how he kept 25 international players happy and hungry wanting to improve, but also the staff in and around the place.

“He’s been my mentor, but I didn’t understand early on he’d be my mentor. Towards the end, maybe the injury in 2003, I was making all the notes about what he did in certain situations and I’ve already been in touch with him – there’s no one to get better advice from.

“I’ve been here as a player, 11 years as a player, a coach for three-and-a-half years, the best part 15 years of my life.

“It’s a third of my life. I’m getting old, but that’s life, that was the same when I signed as a player, Nicky Butt the first lad I meet, says hi to me, you’re excited but it feels like home.”

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Meanwhile, Schmeichel made his pitch to become director of football.

RB Leipzig chief Paul Mitchell, Tottenham’s ex-head of recruitment, is also in the frame as the club plan a restructure.

Schmeichel told BBC’s Sportsweek: “I’m thinking about putting my name in there. Like every other footballer, I want to be involved again.

“I have this energy, I have education but I’ve not seen anything that’s really interesting to make the big change and then I see this big idea about director of football at Man United.

“I’m considering if I have the qualities and will think about it over Christmas. If I do think yes, then I will throw my hat into the ring.

“Ole knows exactly what the club is. He’s a product of Sir Alex and that’s something he can inject in the coming months.

“What’s really important is to get the Manchester United culture back, the Manchester United identity back.”– Schmeichel