Jon Mcleod
Andrew MacdougallCan Ferguson teach Benitez a lesson in humility?
Over the past few decades Sir Alex Ferguson has generated an almost dictatorial image at Old Trafford, ruling with a fierce passion and short fuse. But it is little understood humility that defines Ferguson’s success which is in contrast to Rafa Benitez at Liverpool.
Whether or not he has mellowed over the years is irrelevant - I would suggest not - Ferguson has always understood that players, not managers, win football matches. He has always known the limits of his own influence.
For Ferguson, his role is to recruit the players, create the environment and give them tactical guidance. The rest he entrusts to their genius. This has never been more obvious than in his current crop, whom he claims is the best squad he has ever had. They have a resolute back four but beyond that the likes of Ronaldo, Rooney, Berbatov and Tevez all thrive on a freedom to roam, to create, and to honour their instincts.
Ferguson has the great gift of emancipating his players on the pitch, allowing them to fulfill their natural roles. His job is to ensure, through selection and recruitment, the team possesses the right balance and the players are comfortable.
Crucially he endows them with responsibility. An individual and collective responsibility on the pitch that gives players the belief and temprament to find their best in moments of crisis and extreme pressure. It is no coincidence that United sides have performed so well in title run-ins. And it is no coincidence that most of the league’s greatest leaders and captains have come from United - Bruce, Keane, Beckham, Ferdinand and Giggs the list is long and revealing. Not only does Ferguson seek great leaders, he creates them.
If Ferguson views his players as Generals with whom he entrusts his fate, Benitez looks upon his players as merely foot soldiers to be positioned and sacrificed at his whim.
With Benitez, you get the impression that he would be far more comfortable with a squad of robots, programming them to enact his precise requirements.
There is an overiding suspicion that he distrusts enigmatic nature of genius - the very thing that Ferguson admires the most. How would Benitez handle a Ronaldo given the troubles he has had with Steven Gerrard? It is no coincidence Liverpool have only two match winners in their line-up - Gerrard and Fernando Torres.
Benitez is a logical thinker and a control freak. His estimation of his own importance in tweaking tactical battles strays beyond the obsessive and, more pertinently, often distracts from more decisive matters.
Against inferior opposition, it is often more effective to allow players to show their superior ability and cut lose rather than shackle them to oppressive restraints. Is it necessary to play a right-sided player with an untainted record of tracking back against relegation fodder? Or is it better to find a place for another match winner?
Not that Benitez’s form of management is necessarily inferior to Ferguson. In Europe, where the margins between the elite are minnute, Benitez’s thoughtfulness and tactical acumen has come to the fore where Ferguson has struggled.
They are different personality types and different management styles, but in this title race the romantic is set to overcome the scientist.
Whether or not he has mellowed over the years is irrelevant - I would suggest not - Ferguson has always understood that players, not managers, win football matches. He has always known the limits of his own influence.
For Ferguson, his role is to recruit the players, create the environment and give them tactical guidance. The rest he entrusts to their genius. This has never been more obvious than in his current crop, whom he claims is the best squad he has ever had. They have a resolute back four but beyond that the likes of Ronaldo, Rooney, Berbatov and Tevez all thrive on a freedom to roam, to create, and to honour their instincts.
Ferguson has the great gift of emancipating his players on the pitch, allowing them to fulfill their natural roles. His job is to ensure, through selection and recruitment, the team possesses the right balance and the players are comfortable.
Crucially he endows them with responsibility. An individual and collective responsibility on the pitch that gives players the belief and temprament to find their best in moments of crisis and extreme pressure. It is no coincidence that United sides have performed so well in title run-ins. And it is no coincidence that most of the league’s greatest leaders and captains have come from United - Bruce, Keane, Beckham, Ferdinand and Giggs the list is long and revealing. Not only does Ferguson seek great leaders, he creates them.
If Ferguson views his players as Generals with whom he entrusts his fate, Benitez looks upon his players as merely foot soldiers to be positioned and sacrificed at his whim.
With Benitez, you get the impression that he would be far more comfortable with a squad of robots, programming them to enact his precise requirements.
There is an overiding suspicion that he distrusts enigmatic nature of genius - the very thing that Ferguson admires the most. How would Benitez handle a Ronaldo given the troubles he has had with Steven Gerrard? It is no coincidence Liverpool have only two match winners in their line-up - Gerrard and Fernando Torres.
Benitez is a logical thinker and a control freak. His estimation of his own importance in tweaking tactical battles strays beyond the obsessive and, more pertinently, often distracts from more decisive matters.
Against inferior opposition, it is often more effective to allow players to show their superior ability and cut lose rather than shackle them to oppressive restraints. Is it necessary to play a right-sided player with an untainted record of tracking back against relegation fodder? Or is it better to find a place for another match winner?
Not that Benitez’s form of management is necessarily inferior to Ferguson. In Europe, where the margins between the elite are minnute, Benitez’s thoughtfulness and tactical acumen has come to the fore where Ferguson has struggled.
They are different personality types and different management styles, but in this title race the romantic is set to overcome the scientist.
