Manchester United legend Patrice Evra has called former boss Sir Alex Ferguson’s ‘evil’, claiming the manager would ‘probably end up in jail' if he was managing today.
The Scot a reputation for an iron-fisted reign at Old Trafford, with the 83-year-old clashing with big names such as David Beckham and Roy Keane during his spell in charge.
Importantly, however, he also had a reputation for winning titles.
The Scot boasts a record 13 Premier League titles, coupled with two Champions Leagues and five FA Cups, with United becoming one of the biggest clubs on the planet during his tenure.
Sir Alex Ferguson boasts a record 13 Premier League titles
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Not all of his methods would be permitted in the modern day, however, with the boss being involved in multiple dressing room outbursts, including with Keane and Beckham.
Beckham’s bust-up with the boss was front-page news, as the midfielder sported a wound above his left eye, after being hit by a boot from Ferguson.
Speaking on the SDS podcast, Evra discussed Fergie’s management style: “If Ferguson was coaching right now he would probably end up in jail.
“Do you know how many players I saw cry because he gave them the hairdryer, throwing boots - he was evil!”
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Patrice Evra described his former boss as 'evil'
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The ‘hairdryer treatment’ is a phrase often associated with Ferguson, with the metaphor suggesting the intense shouting at close proximity mirrors that of a hairdryer.
When recalling a friendly based in Saudi Arabia, Evra said: “[Wayne] Rooney gave the ball to Welbeck but he missed the penalty. We lost the game, but it was a friendly, like a 45-minute game.
“When we got back into the dressing room, Ferguson [shouted] 'Welbeck!' Me and Welbeck were in the toilet, he was having a pee, but Ferguson was shouting, 'Who the f**k do you think you are? Coming in the first team, taking a penalty.'
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"I was like ‘Boss, it's just a friendly game’. He was like ‘F**k the friendly game’.”
Ferguson created a tough environment for the players off the pitch but it morphed his squad into serial winners.
Additionally, recruiting hard-hitting and no-nonsense players throughout his tenure, such as Keane, Eric Cantona, and Nemanja Vidic, was crucial in maintaining this culture.
An example of the atmosphere at the club was an incident at fierce rivals Liverpool, where Nani was on the wrong end of a horror tackle from Jamie Carragher, leading to the Portuguese gushing blood from his shin and forcing the winger to tears.
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Nani was stretchered off the field after Jami Carragher's horror challenge
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Evra described the reaction from Ferguson: “I hope your leg is broken, a United player cannot cry at Anfield.”
Evra continued: “After the game we were waiting for the next day when we were going to kill Nani.
“To tell you how nasty we were, we didn't care. If you're bleeding and you cry, you're done, you're not part of us.
“Ferguson had to give him a week off to recover from that because we were waiting to kill him. Even now in the Man United's WhatsApp group we still put that picture of Nani crying at Anfield.”
Evra added: “We were bad people. I want to apologise to all the youngsters who trained with us. We were animals.”
The Frenchman's insight provides a clear image of how tightly-run and, at some points, toxic environment that was created by Ferguson at Old Trafford.
But the cocktail of emotions, talent and guile created a winning formula. That, no one can deny.
