Fulham boss Chris Coleman is amazed by the recent criticism levelled at Sir Alex Ferguson – but admitted the fiery Scott’s style of management is a “dying breed”.
Ferguson was booed by disgruntled United fans for the first time in 16 years after last Saturday’s 2-1 home defeat by Blackburn, raising doubts over his Old Trafford future.
Coleman, who came into conflict with his own fans last season, was disgusted by the treatment given to the United boss and believes the game will never see his like again.
He said: “If Sir Alex is being booed, what hope have I got? I’ve only been doing the job two minutes.
“He’s being booed even though he’s won the Champions League, FA Cups and Premiership titles. But if it’s good enough for him it’s good enough for me.
“I think it’s bonkers. I went to Old Trafford on Tuesday and the fans were chanting his name. Maybe they felt guilty. But this is Alex Ferguson we’re talking about and he won’t have lost any sleep over it.
“Sir Alex is a one-off and it’s pointless anyone trying for be like him. His type of management is a dying breed. The whole game has changed, the personalities have changed.
“Whoever takes over from him faces the hardest job in the world. Sir Alex keeps getting written off but he keeps building good teams.
“The things that stand out with Sir Alex as a manager is what he’s won and his desire to win it all again.
“He demands that same desire from his players. That’s the one thing that separates him from everyone else.
“United were nowhere near where they are today when he took over the job. That’s why I was amazed at the criticism he took from the fans. But he has such belief in himself and in the club, and that rubs off on all the players.”
Ferguson called to pass on his congratulations soon after Coleman was appointed Fulham manager and craftily took the opportunity to tell the Welshman he should allow star striker Louis Saha to join United.
Saha eventually moved to Old Trafford for £12.8million in January 2004 and Coleman said: “Sir Alex was one of the first people to ring me up when I got the job.
“He gave me advice and told me how much the game has changed.
“Then right before he put the phone down he asked me about Louis Saha. His advice then was to sell Louis. I’ve never had a problem with Sir Alex.”
Defeat at Craven Cottage tomorrow could drag Fulham into the bottom three and Coleman admits he will use that knowledge to motivate his players – but will not ask them to rein in their swashbuckling style.
“We are being a bit bolder in our play. I said at the start of the season it would cost us points but hopefully it will click into gear and we will start scoring goals,” added Coleman.
“The fact we can slip into the bottom three will be in my team talk tomorrow.
“I don’t want to be in the bottom three for one night. That’s all the incentive we need for tomorrow.”
