Former Manchester United goalkeeper Mark Bosnich claimed that Sir Alex Ferguson was not a particularly good tactician. Speaking after leaving United for Chelsea in 2001, the Australian acknowledged Ferguson's motivational strengths but likened him to an average jockey fortunate enough to be riding a champion horse.
"Alex Ferguson is basically an old-fashioned manager," he said. "His tactical prowess is negligible. What he can do is spot a player a mile away and motivate people very well."
"His motivational techniques - right or wrong - over the past 13 years have proved to be successful and he does pick the best players. He also has the might of Manchester United behind him. If you have a fantastic horse, the jockey doesn't have to be great."
Bosnich's Complicated History with Ferguson
Bosnich signed for United as a schoolboy in 1989, but after failing to secure a work visa, he returned to Australia in 1991. Ferguson, who had personally overseen the deal to bring him to Old Trafford, was disappointed to lose him, particularly after Bosnich joined Aston Villa in 1992 and quickly established himself as one of the best keepers in English football.
"He brought me over from Australia when I was 16 and when I left the club because of reasons out of my hands, he wanted me to come back later to Manchester United," Bosnich recalled. "I didn't do that for another reason, which I won't go into, but he was very upset."
In 1999, United re-signed Bosnich as replacement for the legendary Peter Schmeichel. However, his second stint at the club didn't go to plan. Despite making 35 appearances and helping United win the Premier League and the Intercontinental Cup, injuries and inconsistent form saw Bosnich fall down the pecking order.
Decline at Chelsea and Drugs Ban
In 2000, Ferguson signed Fabian Barthez, leaving Bosnich as United's third-choice goalkeeper. Midway through the 2000/01 season, he signed for Chelsea on a free transfer. However, injury and fitness issues meant his debut didn't happen until the following season.
Injuries continued to hamper Bosnich at Stamford Bridge and in September 2002, after playing just five times for the Blues, his career hit rock bottom when he failed a drugs test after testing positive for cocaine. He was subsequently sacked by Chelsea and banned from football for nine months.
In his 2013 autobiography, Ferguson called Bosnich a "terrible professional" who would often turn up to training three hours late. "We played down at Wimbledon and Bosnich was tucking into everything: sandwiches, soups, steaks. He was going through the menu," Ferguson wrote. "I told him, 'For Christ's sake, Mark, we've got the weight off you. Why are you tucking into all that stuff?'"
"We arrived back in Manchester, and Mark was on mobile phone to a Chinese restaurant to order a takeaway. Is there no end to you? I just couldn't make an impact on him."
Responding to Ferguson's comments, Bosnich said: "The fact remains that I was the only player he signed twice at Manchester United. In my first season there we won the English Premier League by a record 18 points."
Goalkeeper Succession Woes
Bosnich was the first in a succession of underwhelming goalkeeping signings as Ferguson struggled to find a suitable successor to Schmeichel. Massimo Taibi, who stepped in when Bosnich was out injured, was infamously woeful, making several glaring gaffes in just four appearances for the club.
Barthez enjoyed mixed fortunes across three seasons as United's No. 1 before Tim Howard took over in 2003. After a disappointing start, the American subsequently shared the gloves with Roy Carroll, but neither managed to make the position their own. It was not until Edwin van der Sar arrived in 2005 that Ferguson finally found a long-term replacement for the Dane.
"Goalkeepers are not my strongest point," he wrote. "By the time we got to [Edwin] van der Sar it was a blessing."
Manchester United travel to Stamford Bridge to face Chelsea in Saturday's early kick-off, with Michael Carrick under mounting pressure to save his job. Back-to-back three-goal defeats to Bournemouth and Como, coupled with a run of eight games without a win, have left the United boss fighting for his future. United head into the weekend sitting 16th in the table, just one point clear of the relegation zone, making victory against Chelsea all the more urgent.
