Ferdinand: Ferguson inspirational for Man Utd Champions League triumph
Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand recalled this week Sir Alex Ferguson's pre-match talk for the 2008 Champions League triumph over Chelsea.
Speaking at a fundraising event at Old Trafford, the United skipper recalled Ferguson's inspirational speech that helped them beat Chelsea in the 2008 Champions League final in Moscow.
"I'll never forget it," said Ferdinand. "Before the game he just plonked his chair in the middle of the room and started a random conversation totally unrelated to football.
"But it just settled everybody's nerves and before we knew it his talk switched to words of pure inspiration, reminding all the players, whatever you do in life, to achieve your goals. And, of course, it worked. We won the game.
"I was in awe the first time I met Sir Alex and whenever you get new players at the club it's the same. When Michael Owen signed, he told me how he just sat there listening to the gaffer in amazement. That's why he's so successful."
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Results & Fixtures
Matches
| Home | Away | Score | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sat Feb 11th | |||
| Manchester United | Liverpool | 2 - 1 | 12:45 |
| Fulham | Stoke City | 2 - 1 | 15:00 |
| Blackburn Rovers | Queens Park Rangers | 3 - 2 | 15:00 |
| Bolton Wanderers | Wigan Athletic | 1 - 2 | 15:00 |
| Sunderland | Arsenal | 1 - 2 | 15:00 |
| Everton | Chelsea | 2 - 0 | 15:00 |
| Swansea City | Norwich City | 2 - 3 | 15:00 |
| Aston Villa | Manchester City | - | 15:00 |
| Tottenham Hotspur | Newcastle United | 5 - 0 | 17:30 |
| Sun Feb 12th | |||
| Wolverhampton Wanderers | West Bromwich Albion | 1 - 5 | 13:30 |
| Aston Villa | Manchester City | 0 - 1 | 16:00 |
Tables
| Team | P | W | D | L | GD | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manchester City | 25 | 19 | 3 | 3 | 45 | 60 |
| Manchester United | 25 | 18 | 4 | 3 | 36 | 58 |
| Tottenham Hotspur | 25 | 16 | 5 | 4 | 24 | 53 |
| Arsenal | 25 | 13 | 4 | 8 | 13 | 43 |
| Chelsea | 25 | 12 | 7 | 6 | 13 | 43 |
| Newcastle United | 25 | 12 | 6 | 7 | 0 | 42 |
| Liverpool | 25 | 10 | 9 | 6 | 6 | 39 |
| Norwich City | 25 | 9 | 8 | 8 | -4 | 35 |
| Sunderland | 25 | 9 | 6 | 10 | 8 | 33 |
| Everton | 25 | 9 | 6 | 10 | -1 | 33 |
| Swansea City | 25 | 7 | 9 | 9 | -4 | 30 |
| Fulham | 25 | 7 | 9 | 9 | -5 | 30 |
| Stoke City | 25 | 8 | 6 | 11 | -14 | 30 |
| West Bromwich Albion | 25 | 8 | 5 | 12 | -6 | 29 |
| Aston Villa | 25 | 6 | 10 | 9 | -5 | 28 |
| Queens Park Rangers | 25 | 5 | 6 | 14 | -17 | 21 |
| Blackburn Rovers | 25 | 5 | 6 | 14 | -19 | 21 |
| Wolverhampton Wanderers | 25 | 5 | 6 | 14 | -21 | 21 |
| Bolton Wanderers | 25 | 6 | 2 | 17 | -22 | 20 |
| Wigan Athletic | 25 | 4 | 7 | 14 | -27 | 19 |
Related Stories
- Feb 05 PREMIER LEAGUE: Man Utd stage remarkable comeback at Chelsea to snatch a point
- Feb 04 Man Utd boss Ferguson wanted Ferdinand to shake Terry's hand
- Feb 03 Man Utd boss Ferguson to speak with Ferdinand about Chelsea handshake
- Feb 12 Man Utd defender Ferdinand: Beating Liverpool like walk in park
- Feb 11 Ferguson happy Man Utd kids have Giggs, Scholes as mentors
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Comments (10)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/mobile/bbc_sport/football/features/737/73726/story...?
Check dis too ha ha ha http://m.goal.com/goal_news.php?a=810409&PHPSESSID=4d1566da2b6c9ef1d8a20...
I too, would neva ever 4get dat day. I could have commited suicide had utd lost. John Terry, he scofed his shot widEee! Ha ha ha ha. Dat year all Fergies speech were inspirational. Whatever he said, i believed it whole heartedly. Check dis http://news.bbc.co.uk/mobile/bbc_sport/football/teams/m/man_utd/737/7371...?
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