"Bobby Charlton and Martin Edwards recognised the work I was doing for the football club, not just the first team," he says. "The first team didn't win the title that year but things were being put in place to make the club successful. Once we were in that position, we were able to go out and put some speed and power into the club.

"We signed players like Schmeichel, Parker and Kanchelskis, to add to good buys like Ince, Pallister and Phelan, and we knew we had Ryan Giggs and several other promising youngsters ready to come through. We were developing, starting to grow big. And we were ready."

Asked if he would like to see Liverpool win a title or two, just for old times' sake, Ferguson replied: "You must be f***ing joking! Do you think I'm a sadist? How does relegation sound?"