Standards. The demand has always been to keep them high at Manchester United; you were aware the minute you walked through the door.
I’d like to think I never needed reminding of them by the Stretford End at least. Ron Atkinson, my manager, made me aware but I knew myself what was expected.
This was a club that had won the biggest trophies with Sir Matt Busby and Sir Bobby Charlton, great football names renowned throughout the world. I got to know both, as well as other greats, George Best and Denis Law.
You knew you were striving for excellence, to win, to be the best but when I met Sir Matt and Sir Bob, their fundamental message was ‘work hard’. Work hard, pull no punches in training, train as you mean to play and the enjoyment, the success, will come.
Sir Matt had been a miner as well as a player. He was an army man in the war, a company sergeant major, so that military influence, the work ethic, that discipline on the training ground, was born out of that.
It was instilled in you at United. He wanted his players to carry that forward. Yes, entertain but you must work hard, then you will have pride in what you represent.
I’d like to think I never needed reminding of Manchester United’s standards. Work hard, pull no punches in training, train as you mean to play and the enjoyment, the success, will come
When Sir Alex Ferguson (left) came into the club, he had the standards already ingrained in him – and took United back to the top as Sir Matt Busby (right) had before him
Sir Matt (second left) and Sir Bobby Charlton (right, pictured celebrating winning the European Cup in 1968) gave the United players that followed them a fundamental message: ‘Work hard’
When Sir Alex Ferguson came into the club, he had that already ingrained in him. When we won the Cup Winners’ Cup in 1991 then the league title in 1993, I’ll never forget the smile on Sir Matt’s face; the realisation we were back at the top. It is what he had always dreamed of.
He and Sir Bob loved talking about how important it was to do well both domestically and in Europe. Perpetuating that legacy of the Busby Babes: ‘Remember who you are representing.’ Dress smartly, a good haircut, club tie, club blazer. No earrings, no ponytails. Standards.
So when you see the Stretford End unfurl a banner, reminding players today what they believe is missing, it’s sad to see. That my face adorns that banner, alongside Roy Keane and Eric Cantona, I’m thankful. Thankful that I’m appreciated because I always set out to give the fans everything and because Roy and Eric carried on the same work I put in with them as captain.
United’s players today must give full commitment to the club, those fans and ultimately, themselves. Representing Manchester United with all its history is a privileged role, the responsibility never weighed heavy on me, I always enjoyed it and today’s players should equally embrace the challenge.
I was fortunate to have good tutors in my younger days at West Brom. Hardened professionals such as John Wile, Tony Brown, Len Cantello and Asa Hartford. I saw the value of how they fostered team spirit, building friendships on trips to Worcester races, going for dinner together and playing charity golf or cricket tournaments.
You got to understand your team-mates better. You realised what was going on at home may be affecting how they were at training. Who could take a telling off, who needed an arm round the shoulder. It brought you closer and you looked after each other, on and off the pitch.
When I was made captain at United, I took those practices with me. Importantly, we always stuck together. If I were in the United dressing room now, I’d be saying, first and foremost, statistics tell us work rate must change. Step it up. Secondly, stick together.
Nothing should be coming out on social media or television, certainly not criticism of the staff. Those players know who they are. What needs to be said stays in the dressing room. If you need to have a fight, have the fight but it stays in-house.
The Stretford End unfurled a banner with my face alongside Roy Keane and Eric Cantona last weekend. The message was clear
Representing Manchester United with all its history is a privileged role, the responsibility never weighed heavy on me, I always enjoyed it and today’s players should embrace the challenge
Nothing should be coming out on social media or television, certainly not criticism of the staff as has happened recently with Bruno Fernandes attacking Michael Carrick (left)
I saw many a fight in the dressing room but it wasn’t for the public’s benefit. And I certainly wouldn’t challenge the manager in public. I had no problem saying I disagreed with Sir Alex to his face, but behind closed doors. You can’t agree all the time, that’s life, but the only way you progress is to stay together.
On the pitch, predominantly, you adhere to the tactics you’ve been given but if you’re losing control of a game then work it out yourselves. For example, if Steve Bruce and Gary Pallister were getting overloaded, I’d sometimes ask Brian McClair to drop back into midfield to pick up my man so I could drop deeper and help the defence. When I got back into the dressing room the gaffer would either say ‘great, now reorganise’ or I’d get the hairdryer! But that was why you were captain, to take responsibility.
I always wanted to set an example by how I played but it’s not always possible to play well and it was important, because of that team bond we built, that the other lads were equally confident in giving me a rollicking if I needed it too.
It doesn’t matter who you are, it’s not about you, it’s about Manchester United winning. Michael Carrick doesn’t need players throwing their arms in the air, he needs them to knuckle down.
Michael invited me in to Carrington a few times earlier in the year and the training and attitude looked good. It got results. They know what’s required. As Sir Matt said, hard work is the base for any improvement.
