'I had to go out a winner': Manchester United's Alex Ferguson was determined to retire as a champion
'I had to go out a winner': Manchester United's Alex Ferguson was determined to retire as a champion
"After the disappointment of last season we couldn't take a second one" reveals Reds manager at their end of season awards bash
Talk of the Devils: Ferguson is interviewed at United's awards night
John Peters
Soon-to-retire Manchester United boss Alex Ferguson was desperate "to
go out a winner" after being pipped to the Premier League title by
Manchester City last year.
Reds boss Ferguson, whose 26 years of unprecedented success at Old Trafford will end with Sunday's match at West Brom, has explained just how important it was to him to leave after restoring the Red Devils to top of the pile.
Speaking
on stage at the club's end of season awards, Ferguson said: "That was
an issue when (wife) Cathy and I chatted about this at Christmas. At
that point we had a five-point lead and I thought we had a great chance.
"I
said 'I really need to go out a winner. We need to win something'.
After the disappointment of last season we couldn't take a second one. I
was hopeful we'd win it and we did.
"We had a terrific points
lead. The problem is, when you have a lead and you start to lose a
point. When we lost to City in the Monday night game you start to think
'Christ, you can't throw this away'."
That need to end on a high note extends to the final game of the Ferguson era at West Brom on Sunday too.
The silverware may have been sewn up already, but Ferguson has no interest in signing off with defeat.
"We
need to win the game on Sunday," added on MUTV. "We won the last home
game (against Swansea) and I don't want to lose my last game, that's for
sure."
The outgoing manager was speaking at the club's end of
season awards dinner, where Robin Van Persie won the Sir Matt Busby
Player of the Year award and Michael Carrick won Player's Player of the
Year.
The Dutchman also picked up goal of the season for his stunning volley against Aston Villa.
Ferguson was instrumental in the decision to appoint Everton manager David Moyes as his successor and he explained why he felt his fellow Scot was the man for the job.
United
may have known plenty of success in recent seasons, but Ferguson feels
the ability to deal with adversity could be crucial for Moyes.
"What
I know of David is he's hard working, there's an integrity about him,
he's got a work ethic about him and he's a serious football man. These
are qualities he's going to need. If you look at what he's done at
Everton for instance. Long time 'til dinner: United's Patrice Evra picks up pizza earlier today
Simon Ashton
"Eleven years without real financial backing, but he persevered and created some decent teams in the last few years.
"One thing you have to do here is sacrifice and persevere. It's not always a golden path of riches.
"There are hard days, there are difficult days, there are bad losses.
"Our supporters have suffered many things but they've also enjoyed many things."
United's
chief executive David Gill is also departing at the end of the season,
but he is content that the foundations being taken over by Moyes are
built for success.
"It will be strange (when Ferguson leaves) but we've got the infrastructure there," he told MUTV.
"We
have very good staff off and on the field. It'll be strange but David
Moyes coming in will know he's got a rock-solid club, a club that has
just won the Premier League by a big points margin."
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