GiveMeSport
·28 January 2023
GiveMeSport
·28 January 2023
Paul Ince returns to Manchester United on Saturday evening as he takes his Reading side to Old Trafford in the FA Cup fourth round.
The former England international made 280 appearances for the Red Devils between 1989 and 1995, winning two Premier Leagues, two FA Cups and the League Cup during his time at the ‘Theatre of Dreams’.
Ince’s entire United career took place under the watchful eye of the legendary Sir Alex Ferguson, who the Londoner once admitted had “treated him like a son”.
“I’ve been looking back on all the incredible times I’ve had with him [Ferguson], sometimes good, sometimes bad: from winning trophies, to being on the receiving end of a massive telling off,” wrote Ince in his column for Paddy Power back in 2018.
“All of the rants and raves, you start reflecting on it and it dawns on you what an enormous part of your life he was.”
The fiery Scot was infamous for reprimanding his players if he felt they were underperforming. Few were ever spared the hairdryer treatment from Ferguson – and Ince shared his own story of receiving a verbal volley from the boss.
It led to a confrontation so intense that the pair didn’t speak for a number of weeks.
“One memory that always sticks out to me is playing Norwich at Carrow Road, and they were challengers for the title at the time. We won 3-0, in fact we won it with ease. I thought I’d had a blinder of a game,” insisted Ince.
“But, we get to the end of the match and we’re all celebrating when Fergie comes in furious. I kept saying, ‘Boss, what’s your problem? We won!’ and he screamed at me, saying: ‘Paul, you are not f****** Maradona! You just get the ball and pass it to the best players.’”
Harsh stuff!
Ince went on to explain that he was far from happy with his manager’s criticism: “Put it this way. We didn’t speak for two weeks. Not even a ‘hello’ or ‘goodbye'”.
Ultimately, though, all was forgiven.
“We made up during a game of head tennis, and he was refereeing and intentionally said that I hit the ball out to wind me up.
“Then he goes to me: ‘Incey, don’t mess with the gaffer!’ And of course, I was howling laughing, and all was forgiven. He was trying to teach me a lesson about not letting my ego get too big.
“He wanted us all to be the best we could be. I’ve taken his advice and guidance into the rest of my personal life. I pass into on to my young players, too.
“When you look at other players he’s managed who have since gone onto management, Bryan Robson, Steve Bruce and Mark Hughes, I know for a fact they will have all taken Fergie’s advice and given it to their players now.
“He has a legacy like no one else.”
Ince returned to football last year to take over at Reading, some eight years after he was sacked by Blackpool in his last managerial role.
Originally appointed as an interim manager, Ince guided the relegation-threatened Berkshire side to safety with two games to spare last season.
That achievement landed him the job on a permanent basis and the Royals look well-placed to avoid a similar survival scrap in 2022/23.