Alex Ferguson Quotes

Myths grow all the time. If I was to listen to the number of times I've thrown teacups then we've gone through some crockery in this place. It's completely exaggerated, but I don't like people arguing back with me.

I'm going to tell you the story about the geese which fly 5,000 miles from Canada to France.

You are responsible to each other because when you win a game of football, you only need eight players to perform well.

It's a conflict of parallels.

My greatest challenge is not what's happening at the moment, my greatest challenge was knocking Liverpool right off their f*****g perch. And you can print that.

When he's at the top of his game, there's not a team in the world that can handle Giggs' speed and penetration

I bet him he wouldn't get 15 league goals and I'm going to have to change my bet with him. If he gets to 15 I can change it and I am allowed to do that because I'm the manager. I'm going to make it 150 now!

The philosophy of a lot of European teams, even in home matches, is not to give a goal away.

I realized I was good at developing young people. Eventually I started to believe in young people. I think when you give a young person an opportunity, he always believes who gave him his first chance. You create a loyalty that lasts a lifetime.

They had Jan Venegoor of...whatever you call him.

He's fiery, he's competitive, ... I think it was an unfair booking, and Wayne reacts like this against injustice.

He could start a row in an empty house.

Her Majesty said she hoped I would have time for my horses - I own two and have shares in four.

Go make your mistakes in the first team. You'll learn more in a month in the first team than you will in two years in the reserves.

They say it was Cesc Fabregas who threw the pizza at me but, to this day, I have no idea who the culprit was.

Ronaldo could play for Millwall, QPR, Doncaster Rovers or anyone and he'd score a hat-trick. I'm not sure Messi could do it. Ronaldo's got two feet, he's quick, he's good in the air and he's brave, though Messi's brave too of course. I just think Messi is a Barcelona player.

There are members of the London press who seek to antagonise me, deliberately.

I've got a temper if I need it. Nothing wrong with losing your temper, if it's for the right reasons.

If you're going to be a footballer, be a great one.If you're going to have a dream, dream big.

We are very focused this time and our preparation has been better. We maybe made one or two mistakes last time, but not this time.

I think Sepp Blatter is in danger...or has reached a point now, where he is being mocked within the game. Whether he's getting too old, I don't know. But things can happen to people in power. Look at some of the despots in Africa... From a position of great power, he has uttered so many ridiculous statements that he is in danger of seriously damaging his credibility.

To not apologize for the behavior of the players to another manager is unthinkable. It's a disgrace, but I don't expect Wenger to ever apologize...he's that type of person.

That lad must have been born offside.

In England, it's a rare thing to see a player smoking but, all in all, I prefer that to an alcoholic. The relationship with alcohol is a real problem in English football and, in the short term, it's much more harmful to a sportsman. It weakens the body, which becomes more susceptible to injury.

Look at me – it's taken 10 years off me today. It's these tablets, they're great!

Football management is such a pressurized thing - horse racing is a release. I'm also learning to play the piano - I'm quite determined - it's another release from the pressure of my job.

I can't believe it. I can't believe it. Football. Bloody hell.

It's great news. The reality of negotiations today is that they take time. But these have always been conducted in a good spirit and we are very pleased with the outcome. We can now look forward to the future.

Distinguish between power and control, delegate, be decisive - and always remember people's first names.

If my parents were still alive, they would be very proud. They gave me a good start in life, the values that have driven me, and the confidence to believe in myself.

I've never played for a draw in my life.

Well, football is a hard game; there's no denying it. It's a game that can bring out the worst in you, at times.

Everest in his slippers. That's what he was like.

Keeping players happy is not easy and I think anyone with a big squad will tell you that.

Hard work will always overcome natural talent when natural talent does not work hard enough.

Evolution happens. There's no football team in the world that has stayed together for time ever more.

Wayne is truly blessed. He doesn't just have ability, he has a fire inside him.

Pardew has come out and criticized me. He is the worst at haranguing referees. He shoves them and makes a joke of it. How he can criticize me is unbelievable. He forgets the help I gave him, by the way. The press have had a field day. The only person they have not spoken to is Barack Obama because he is busy. It is unfortunate but I am the manager of the most famous club in the world. Not Newcastle, a wee club in the North-East. I was demonstrative. I am always demonstrative. Everyone knows that. I am an emotional guy but I was not abusive.

Scholes was probably the best English midfielder since Bobby Charlton. He was such a brilliant long passer that he could choose a hair on the head of any team-mate answering the call of nature at our training ground. Gary Neville once thought he had found refuge in a bush, but Scholesy found him from 40 yeards. He inflicted a similar long-range missile strike, once, on Peter Schmeichel, and was chased round the training ground for his impertinence. Scholesy would have made a first class-sniper.

I don't like losing but I've mellowed. I maybe have a short fuse but it goes away quicker now.

Jose [Mourinho] was one of those guys on a surfboard who can stay longer on the wave than anyone else.

Funnily enough we have never had one enquiry for Paul Scholes. You know why? Because they all know he will never leave. in my time he would be in the top six or seven (best United players ever) without a doubt. His contribution and quality have been great, even without the fantastic goals he has scored. [ . . . ] He has that wonderful velvet touch on the ball. When he gets it, it goes stone dead. It is wonderful to see that amidst all the mayhem that can happen in a football match.

If we can play like that every week well get some level of consistency.

There is no evidence that changing your managers repeatedly leads to success, but there is evidence at Manchester United, I was managing there for 26 years I won 38 trophies.

We have to try to beat Everyone.

Never give in or give up easily on a cause.

I remember the first time I saw him. He was 13 and just floated over the ground like a cockier spaniel chasing a piece of silver paper in the wind.

He has an awareness of what's happening around him on the edge of the box which is better than most players. As a kid he always had a knack of arriving in the penalty area just at the right time, but he's proving just as effective from outside the box because he's using his experience in the right way. It doesn't matter who I am thinking about bringing into my midfield, Paul Scholes will be included, as he would in any side in the world.