SIR ALEX FERGUSON dubbed himself and assistant Archie Knox “two bad cops” over his strict training methods.
The legendary Manchester United manager and his right-hand man worked together when Ferguson first took charge of the club in 1986 to 1991.
Sir Alex Ferguson is widely regarded as one of the best managers of all time
Archie Knox also worked with Sir Alex Ferguson at Aberdeen
Speaking to The Telegraph, Knox revealed how the duo implemented discipline on the squad.
He shared a story on how then captain Bryan Robson complained to Ferguson that Knox demanded all players come back for a second training session later on as the first that day wasn’t good enough.
He explained how Sir Alex toughly replied: “If Archie said get back for two o’clock, be back for two o’clock. End of story.”
Knox, 75, continued: “At the end of that session I had just booted the balls away and said to Brian, ‘I am not f*****g having this, right. This can’t be Manchester United’s training.’
“I knew that Alex would respond that way. We would never be one up against the other.
“Alex always said that in our case it was ‘two bad cops’.
“If Alex gave them stick I certainly wouldn’t be putting an arm on their shoulder. If you lay the ground rules from the start, the players respond.
“We would train at 10:30am in the winter and if anyone was late they had the penalty of a few laps around the training field. You would hear the cars screeching into the car park just before we started.”
The tough measures installed in the squad worked for Man Utd as the club went on to win 13 Premier League trophies, five FA Cups and lift the Champions League twice.
The current Red Devils have drifted away from that stern approach amid claims of a bad dressing room under previous bosses Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Ralf Rangnick.
New manager Erik ten Hag is attempting to re-install the authoritarian style in match with the club’s philosophy Ferguson built.
He has been training the squad hard during this pre-season demanding players match his high standards.
The Dutchman has even implemented strict rules such as an alcohol ban, no phones at meal times and regular body fat checks.
