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Fergie regrets calling Ince a 'Big Time Charlie' as managers prepare to face-off for first time
By Peter Ferguson
Last updated at 10:57 PM on 03rd October 2008
Sir Alex Ferguson has admitted he regrets his public branding of Paul Ince as a 'Big Time Charlie', a verdict that has tarnished the former Manchester United midfielder's image.
As Ince, now in charge of Blackburn, prepares to cross managerial swords for the first time with the Old Trafford boss he calls 'the greatest ever', he insists that Fergie's title breakthrough team was crammed with outsize egos.
But while team-mate Mark Hughes christened Sir Alex's infamous hairdryer, it might have been invented for the ever-opinionated Ince - and Ferguson delivered his condemnation on the record in a TV documentary.
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Great Scot: Ferguson will go head to head with Paul Ince when Manchester United take on Blackburn at Ewood Park this weekend
They will talk shop over a glass of red at Ewood Park with hostilities at an end and Ferguson, who rarely needs to admit an error, wishing he had been more circumspect when faced by the return of Ince in a Liverpool shirt.
Ferguson, reminded of his description of Ince that day a decade ago, said yesterday: 'Yes, that was a mistake. We let a camera into our dressing room, which we had never done before, and it won't happen again.'
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Ince had left United in a £7million move to Inter Milan before infuriating the fans by signing for hated rivals Liverpool.
Former United centre half Gary Pallister recalled: 'We all knew the cameras were there and the manager probably did it for them. It was all part of the mind games. Incey knew he was going to get a hot reception and the manager was stoking it up a bit.'
Ince is not the sort of man to seek an apology - indeed, he revelled in his full-on role in a title team who boasted such shrinking violets as Roy Keane, Eric Cantona and Bryan Robson.
He insists he has not modelled his fast-track managerial style on that of the great man, but he believes only Ferguson could have harnessed the egos that flourished to send United flying high 15 years ago.
New man: Ince took over from Mark Hughes at Ewood Park
Ince said: 'In 1993-94, Fergie must have fallen out with every one of that United squad. Loads of them. You go down different avenues and then you meet up again and you get on again. That's how football is.
'You have to have arrogance, that makes the special players, the likes of Keaney and Cantona. They're not horrible, but they are arrogant. You need that to play for Manchester United. Big egos and characters will always clash.
'But as a team, we were fantastic. He could absolutely rollock us and knew that he'd get a response. I don't think he uses the hairdryer as much as he used to. With today's footballers, you have to be a little bit more careful.
'I look at Fergie's team now, and what Alex Ferguson says probably goes. At the time we were playing, it wasn't always the case. If we felt we were right, we'd chip back.
'For me, that team was the best. Not necessarily just on ability, but because there were so many opinionated people in that changing room. We all had rows where people wanted to voice their opinion.
Fergies's babes: Hughes (left), Steve Bruce (centre) and Ince all manage Premier League clubs and played under Ferguson at Old Trafford
'For him to deal with 13 or 14 big strong characters, personalities and opinions, to get them to win the Premier for the first time, shows how great he is. It was a team no other manager in the world could have controlled.'
Ferguson, told of Ince's assertion that the players of that era stood up to him more, said: 'Did they? That's interesting. I'll have to re-check my fines book. But it was a team of very strong characters.
They were good ages, not kids. 'With Paul you could not have a honeymoon all the time, because he was such a volatile character. But he never let us down. He was always a good player.'
Ince still chuckles at the text he received from Sir Alex on taking his first manager's job at Macclesfield - 'Welcome to the madhouse. I can't tell you what I texted back!' - and looks forward to showing his prowess 18 months on.
He said: 'I have my own identity, but you learn from different managers. I'm going to make mistakes but when I do, I pick up the phone to Sir Alex. People say things in the heat of the moment, but you grow up and get wiser. Since I came back from Italy we speak.'
Manchester United have given injured Paul Scholes a boost by handing him a new contract that will keep him at the club until the summer of 2010. Fellow midfielder Darren Fletcher has also been a given a new deal until 2012.
By Peter Ferguson
Last updated at 10:57 PM on 03rd October 2008
Sir Alex Ferguson has admitted he regrets his public branding of Paul Ince as a 'Big Time Charlie', a verdict that has tarnished the former Manchester United midfielder's image.
As Ince, now in charge of Blackburn, prepares to cross managerial swords for the first time with the Old Trafford boss he calls 'the greatest ever', he insists that Fergie's title breakthrough team was crammed with outsize egos.
But while team-mate Mark Hughes christened Sir Alex's infamous hairdryer, it might have been invented for the ever-opinionated Ince - and Ferguson delivered his condemnation on the record in a TV documentary.
Scroll down for more
Great Scot: Ferguson will go head to head with Paul Ince when Manchester United take on Blackburn at Ewood Park this weekend
They will talk shop over a glass of red at Ewood Park with hostilities at an end and Ferguson, who rarely needs to admit an error, wishing he had been more circumspect when faced by the return of Ince in a Liverpool shirt.
Ferguson, reminded of his description of Ince that day a decade ago, said yesterday: 'Yes, that was a mistake. We let a camera into our dressing room, which we had never done before, and it won't happen again.'
More...
- Blackburn v MAN UTD: Rooney to miss Ewood Park clash
- Ince has taken his fighting qualities into management - Ferguson backs former United star to succeed
- Ferguson delight as Fletcher and Scholes pen new United deals
- HATCHET MAN: Balanced, insightful and fair - it's Sir Alex Ferguson on Premier League referees ... nearly
Ince had left United in a £7million move to Inter Milan before infuriating the fans by signing for hated rivals Liverpool.
Former United centre half Gary Pallister recalled: 'We all knew the cameras were there and the manager probably did it for them. It was all part of the mind games. Incey knew he was going to get a hot reception and the manager was stoking it up a bit.'
Ince is not the sort of man to seek an apology - indeed, he revelled in his full-on role in a title team who boasted such shrinking violets as Roy Keane, Eric Cantona and Bryan Robson.
He insists he has not modelled his fast-track managerial style on that of the great man, but he believes only Ferguson could have harnessed the egos that flourished to send United flying high 15 years ago.
New man: Ince took over from Mark Hughes at Ewood Park
Ince said: 'In 1993-94, Fergie must have fallen out with every one of that United squad. Loads of them. You go down different avenues and then you meet up again and you get on again. That's how football is.
'You have to have arrogance, that makes the special players, the likes of Keaney and Cantona. They're not horrible, but they are arrogant. You need that to play for Manchester United. Big egos and characters will always clash.
'But as a team, we were fantastic. He could absolutely rollock us and knew that he'd get a response. I don't think he uses the hairdryer as much as he used to. With today's footballers, you have to be a little bit more careful.
'I look at Fergie's team now, and what Alex Ferguson says probably goes. At the time we were playing, it wasn't always the case. If we felt we were right, we'd chip back.
'For me, that team was the best. Not necessarily just on ability, but because there were so many opinionated people in that changing room. We all had rows where people wanted to voice their opinion.
Fergies's babes: Hughes (left), Steve Bruce (centre) and Ince all manage Premier League clubs and played under Ferguson at Old Trafford
'For him to deal with 13 or 14 big strong characters, personalities and opinions, to get them to win the Premier for the first time, shows how great he is. It was a team no other manager in the world could have controlled.'
Ferguson, told of Ince's assertion that the players of that era stood up to him more, said: 'Did they? That's interesting. I'll have to re-check my fines book. But it was a team of very strong characters.
They were good ages, not kids. 'With Paul you could not have a honeymoon all the time, because he was such a volatile character. But he never let us down. He was always a good player.'
Ince still chuckles at the text he received from Sir Alex on taking his first manager's job at Macclesfield - 'Welcome to the madhouse. I can't tell you what I texted back!' - and looks forward to showing his prowess 18 months on.
He said: 'I have my own identity, but you learn from different managers. I'm going to make mistakes but when I do, I pick up the phone to Sir Alex. People say things in the heat of the moment, but you grow up and get wiser. Since I came back from Italy we speak.'
Manchester United have given injured Paul Scholes a boost by handing him a new contract that will keep him at the club until the summer of 2010. Fellow midfielder Darren Fletcher has also been a given a new deal until 2012.
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