Driven: Ferguson is still going. Photo: Andrea SartoratiAfter another Manchester United masterclass against wealthy rivals, most agree they have something money cannot buy. But few have debated what this actually is.
No doubt, however, that it was evident against Manchester City. Complete domination over two halves, control of possession, chances, a beautiful goal, and a thrilling finish that, strictly speaking, should not have been necessary.
Then again, as often with Manchester United, the script was already written. Not only the late goal, but the manner they always outplay seemingly stronger opponents – certainly physically. Player for player, it is hard to argue for their superiority against a side like Manchester City.
This wasn’t the first time. Repeated wins against Chelsea last year included Michael Carrick and Ryan Giggs in central midfield, faced with a trio including Michael Essien and Ramires. Predicted to be overpowered, overplayed, overrun,? United ghosted past such issues in a near illogical manner.
Observing this in an age where analysis and tactics have captured the agenda, it is easy to overemphasise science in football. Indeed, for all qualities Sir Alex Ferguson possesses, his ability to raise the collective higher than the sum of its parts remains the most unique, and perhaps the most undermined. There are other great motivators too, but only Ferguson can field seven defenders against Arsenal – and still win.
Collective values
There are many factors to this. A strong theoretical framework, a shared ideology and time on the pitch together are all boxes that are ticked at Old Trafford, a notion made even more visible amid the triumph over an anarchic Manchester City. But solely crediting this would be a simplification.
Chelsea too tick these boxes, so do Arsenal and Tottenham. They are values all coaches recognise and try to implement, and while Ferguson may be successful at doing so, it is not unique. In fact, neither is Ferguson a revolutionary tactician or a faultless transfer dealer. For all his capabilities, they cannot be said to be held explanatory for the unimaginable success he has enjoyed.
Mentality
This leads us to factors that transcend tactics, fitness and man management: the mentality of the manager. As unique as Sir Alex Ferguson the character is, so are the teams he crafts. Indeed, there is a saying that teams are reflections of their manager’s personality. No one exemplifies this as Ferguson.
Wenger: Continued motivation. Photo: Ronnie MacdonaldUnpicking his character, the Scot possesses more than just work rate and talent. There is a hunger, drive and indescribable determination, a continued will to be successful which is close to unprecedented. The importance of this quality was incidentally underlined by Arsene Wenger, when he spoke before Malaysian business men during Arsenal’s pre-season tour in Asia:
“For me, there is a very underrated quality necessary to be a success in life, and that is stamina of motivation. When you get up in the morning, you want to be successful. On Monday? Yes. On Tuesday? Maybe a bit less, and on Wednesday, maybe a bit less.
“But those who are successful are people who are capable of saying, ‘every day I want it, and I’m ready to go for it’. When we get up in the morning, we do not really want to suffer, we would like an easy day. It’s not normal for a human being to suffer. But, if you want to be successful, you have to push yourself. That’s where careers are made.”
Ferguson, 69, with constant success for 25 years, certainly has this, and it serves as a direct source to how his players treat a game. He never gives up, they never give up. His standards become their standards. His continued motivation becomes their continued motivation; the latter point handily proven by Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs.
While some may dismiss this motivation as coming from the players, this is impossible. Nobody can sign perfectly motivated players for 25 years. Instead they become part of an environment, a shared mentality which infiltrates their attitudes on the pitch; generation after generation. Indeed, so strong his Ferguson’s desire to succeed that a horde of former players have turned to the dugout themselves – a record only matched by the AC Milan of Arrigo Sachi.
European parallels
A quick look at other elite managers suggests the reflection of personality adage is correct. Jose Mourinho treats each game as a war; his players do the same. His personality is determined and confrontational; his players behave accordingly. Conversely, his La Liga counterpart, Josep Guardiola, is a refined thinker framed by romanticism, a mindset that has translated into aesthetic beauty of unparalleled nature.
Domestically, Arsene Wenger appears the most stand-out example. He too is a romantic, aspiring to the same values as his Catalan blueprint. “What makes daily life interesting is that we try to transform it to something that is close to art,” he once said. “And football is like that. When I watch Barcelona, it is art.” Only naturally, his players aspire to similar goals, often sacrificing shooting opportunities in pursuit of that perfect goal.
The driving force of these motivations make up a big part of what “money cannot buy” – for better or worse. The beautiful thing is that they cannot be taught; they are simply the effects of an individual’s unshakable desire to become successful, resonated into a group of players.
For more than a decade, late winners have found the net at Old Trafford. Players and fans have come and gone. The only constant has been Ferguson.
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Alex Ferguson’s classic ‘cow in a field’ moment by Haugstad1006
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