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Ferguson relishing Ince challenge
Author: Andrew Allen
Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson can't wait to stand in the opposite dugout of another one of his former players on Saturday when the Premier League champions travel to Ewood Park, where Paul Ince is the manager. Ince became manager of Blackburn in the summer, taking the reins from another ex-Red, Mark Hughes.Ince, 40, steered MK Dons to promotion to League One last season before being appointed Blackburn No1. Three league wins out of six in his first two months in the job at Blackburn have taken Rovers to seventh in the table and Sir Alex is not a bit surprised by Ince's initial success.
"Incey has just carried on from Mark Hughes in terms of running a very successful operation at Blackburn," said Ferguson. "Paul's always had something about him and I'm not surprised he's become a manager and is doing so well. He had a good apprenticeship at MK Dons and has learnt from his time there.
"He's gone to Blackburn and had to deal with a bit of change following the departure of David Bentley who, by all accounts was their star player, and he also lost a couple of members of backroom staff. But he hasn't panicked and has got on with the job.
"I've spoken to him a few times this season and, of course, he's got my old sidekick there Knoxy [Archie Knox] who will help him. I think Paul's done very well taking on someone with the experience of Archie.
"When he was a player with me, he was always a stubborn, determined lad, but he was a real fighter on the pitch and I think he's taken his qualities into management."
Author: Andrew Allen
Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson can't wait to stand in the opposite dugout of another one of his former players on Saturday when the Premier League champions travel to Ewood Park, where Paul Ince is the manager. Ince became manager of Blackburn in the summer, taking the reins from another ex-Red, Mark Hughes.Ince, 40, steered MK Dons to promotion to League One last season before being appointed Blackburn No1. Three league wins out of six in his first two months in the job at Blackburn have taken Rovers to seventh in the table and Sir Alex is not a bit surprised by Ince's initial success.
"Incey has just carried on from Mark Hughes in terms of running a very successful operation at Blackburn," said Ferguson. "Paul's always had something about him and I'm not surprised he's become a manager and is doing so well. He had a good apprenticeship at MK Dons and has learnt from his time there.
"He's gone to Blackburn and had to deal with a bit of change following the departure of David Bentley who, by all accounts was their star player, and he also lost a couple of members of backroom staff. But he hasn't panicked and has got on with the job.
"I've spoken to him a few times this season and, of course, he's got my old sidekick there Knoxy [Archie Knox] who will help him. I think Paul's done very well taking on someone with the experience of Archie.
"When he was a player with me, he was always a stubborn, determined lad, but he was a real fighter on the pitch and I think he's taken his qualities into management."
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