Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has no doubts he is the most important man at the club. At 68, Ferguson no longer orders pies or sorts out match programmes like he did as a young manager learning his trade north of the border.
But even though he has learned how to delegate, Fergie insists the buck still stops with him - not owner
Malcolm Glazer, chief executive David Gill, superstar Wayne Rooney or anyone else.
Ferguson said: "My control is the most important thing. The most important person in Manchester United is the manager. I always thought that when I became a manager - and I experienced this in Aberdeen - I had too much control.
"I was doing everything - ordering the pies, looking after the programmes. It was getting me nowhere. What happens is that you do too much and then you don't do the important things.
"Then, the directors start to say 'He's too big for his boots' and stuff like that."
Ferguson is well used to winning trophies with 33 honours - including 11 Premier League titles and two Champions League crowns - landing in the trophy cabinet since he took charge on November 6, 1986.
He feels if United are to stay at the top, it is far more important how his players handle the success that comes their way.
The Glaswegian added: "Over the years, I've learned to handle success and treat it very, very carefully.
"I'm used to it but I'm more worried about how the players handle it.
"I am very conscious of that and always will be. That's my job."
The United gaffer was speaking at Dublin's Trinity College to a group of philosophy students in the aftermath of his team's dramatic Carling Cup semi-final first-leg defeat to bitter cross-town rivals Manchester City.
