Sublime

To my surprise, every Manchester United player I’ve spoken to and interviewed said Sir Alex Ferguson didn’t care about tactics, strategies and formations. He cared primarily about getting the best out of each individual, the team’s culture and their attitude; he didn’t want them ever to become complacent.

He understood people. He wouldn’t treat two players the same. Blanket treatment isn’t the best way to treat a team. Everyone’s different, everyone takes advice differently. Everyone takes criticism differently. And that’s why the leader or manager needs to know the individuals. This was one of Sir Alex Ferguson’s greatest traits. He knew everything

Observation – sizing up others and measuring situations – is an essential part of preparation,

For me there are two forms of observation: the first is on the detail and the second is on the big picture.

When he first joined the struggling side in 1986, he said ‘The most important thing at Manchester United is the culture of the club. The culture of the club comes from the manager.’ He emphasised that culture and values – not just players and tactics – determine a team’s success. He said that these values must be instilled in players from the momen

There’s a reason that God gave us two ears, two eyes and one mouth. It’s so you can listen and watch twice as much as you talk. Best of all, listening costs you nothing.

I was impressed by Jürgen’s practical approach. Rather than demanding the perfect player, he was willing to find creative solutions to maximise each player’s strengths and minimise their weaknesses. He often talked of his preference for players with one or two ‘extreme characteristics’ – game-changers. If and when those game-changers had weaknesses