Ex-Man Utd boss Sir Alex Ferguson says he couldn’t get away with ‘hairdryer’ treatment today because stars would cry
SIR ALEX FERGUSON admitted he wouldn’t get away with dishing out his infamous “hairdryer” blasts today because snowflake footballers have been known to cry.
The Manchester United legend was renowned for his close-up screaming and spitting outbursts – including infamously injuring David Beckham’s eye.
Even former England captain Wayne Rooney and United legend Cristiano Ronaldo weren’t immune to Fergie’s fury.
But the Scot now bemoans the fact today’s managers are restricted from using his fearsome motivational weapon because society has changed and players have become too sensitive.
The 81-year-old told The Athletic in 2021: “Jim Smith told me one of his players started crying when he got criticised.
“I thought, ‘What is the game like now? Where are we going?’
“Obviously you have to be tactful nowadays about the criticism you give them.”
Fergie was known for going right up to players’ faces and kicking items around during both individual and team-wide “hairdryer” rants.
And he’s held up his hands to the most infamous outburst – when he kicked a boot which hit Beckham’s eye after the winger swore following an FA Cup defeat against Arsenal.
Ronaldo ended up getting stick from his team-mates after bursting into tears after being on the receiving end of a “hairdryer” – a word Fergie hated when it was first coined.
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The 13-time Premier League-winning manager said: “I didn’t like it at the time.
“But now you have to admit the comedy part.
“I could be really angry or volatile, but it was over and the players knew that and never brought it up again.
“They never bore a grudge.
“It was all over in the dressing room.
“The more important part is to tell the truth.”