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14 Jun 2005 WALTER SMITH DISCUSSES SIR ALEX FERGUSON
The LMA website sent Sue McCann to speak Sir Alex's long-time friend and recent colleague Walter Smith, to gain a rare insight into one of football's most decorated Managers.
Sir Alex appointed Smith as his Assistant Manager from March to May (2003/4 season), where together they lifted the FA Cup
ON BEING MANCHESTER UNITED ASSISTANT MANAGER
"I thought I'd been at a big Club with Glasgow Rangers but when I became Assistant Manager for 10 weeks at Man Utd I realised that the demands on Alex are absolutely enormous. Not just on the footballing side but on the outside too... media, supporters etc. My respect for him grew enormously when I actually witnessed him working on a day to day basis. He's got a huge appetite for the job. That was the one thing that impressed me more than anything else whilst I was working for him. "
ON THE VOCIFEROUS CRITICISM DIRECTED AT FERGUSON AND HIS FAILURE IN ADDING TO THEIR IMPRESSIVE HAUL OF TROPHIES THIS SEASON.
"I think it's just part and parcel of football at the moment, that regardless of a Club's circumstances, criticism comes your way. Anybody who has supported Man Utd over the last 18 years will realise that there have been periods when Alex's teams have been changing from one side to the next... where they don't have the level of success that they've had. This is probably his 4th team since he became Man Utd manager. Nobody has been more successful at identifying these needs and rectifying them. He'll be doing a little bit of tinkering in the close season and you can be sure that they'll be back more determined than ever next season. It surprises me from that aspect that people have jumped on the band wagon so early."
JUST 2 YEARS FROM REGULAR RETIREMENT AGE, MOST PEOPLE WOULD BE CONSIDERING A WELCOME REST & RECUPERATION. THE ONLY R & R LIKELY TO BE PREOCCUPYING SIR ALEX'S THOUGHTS ARE THE PRECOCIOUS TALENTS OF ROONEY & RONALDO.
"For any young player you couldn't find anyone who's better at handling their careers than Alex Ferguson. He's shown that with any young player he's had and put in the first Team.... their careers have blossomed out of all recognition.
Wayne Rooney is a special talent. A lot of pressure comes with that but Alex has experienced this before and I'm sure that both of them working together will be a fantastic benefit to Manchester United. Ronaldo is a just as special and there is far more to come from him as he matures as a player and a person. He's an excellent trainer. He's serious about his football and loves to win. People may see him as having a trick or two that others can't do, but believe me there's far more to him than just that aspect of his game."
ON ALEX'S PURSUIT OF PREMIERSHIP CHAMPIONS CHELSEA NEXT SEASON.
"I'm sure he'll be saying to the players that they have got to show that personal pride to get them back to the top again. Man Utd need to be amongst the winners. Alex has kept them there for a phenomenal length of time and he'll be the one who's hurting as much as anyone. But I am sure that the players will be as well, they want to win and they know that they are at a Club where they have to win."
