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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Tom Blow

Inside Sir Alex Ferguson's "unbelievable" team talk Man Utd legends believe is best ever

Sir Alex Ferguson won plenty of trophies during his time as Manchester United manager, including the Champions League twice.

United's most recent triumph came in May 2008, When Fergie's team defeated Premier League rivals Chelsea on penalties in Moscow.

It was a tight game, with Cristiano Ronaldo and Frank Lampard scoring the only goals before half-time.

Ferguson knew the trophy could go either way ahead of the game and delivered one of the most inspiring team talks in United's history.

"It was the best team talk I heard the gaffer do," recalled Red Devils legend Wes Brown told the Daily Mail. "He went around every player, said a few things about where they’d come from and what they had achieved.

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Sir Alex Ferguson's inspiring team talks in Moscow helped Manchester United win the 2008 Champions League (Daily Mirror)

"The message was about a group all coming from different places, nobody growing up the same, but we were all here now, United. It was very good, inspiring."

Brown struggled with injuries throughout his United career but was the team's regular right-back that season, making 52 appearances in all competitions.

On Ferguson's team-talks, the ex-defender added: "Going off the team talks, I would say 100 per cent it was the Liverpool games that counted most to him.

"When it came around, you could feel this is the one we had to win. History showed Liverpool were the best team before the gaffer arrived.

"He got a squad together to to change that but he never forgot Liverpool’s past achievements. He wanted to stay on top.

"He didn’t need to explain it to me because I was local but maybe he needed to stress to other players it was the most important game by far."

Other United icons, meanwhile, have also highlighted Ferguson's pre-match Moscow talk as his most inspiring.

"We were in the dressing room when the boss came in," recalled Patrice Evra, who played at left-back against Chelsea. "As usual, the music stopped. You could hear a pin drop.

"Then Ferguson said, 'I've already won...' We looked at each other... We were like, 'What is he talking about? The game hasn't even started.'

"Then Ferguson turned to me. 'Look at Patrice. He's got 24 brothers and sisters. Imagine what his mother had to do to put food on the table...'

"Then he turned to Wayne Rooney. 'Look at Wayne. He grew up in one of the toughest parts of Liverpool...' Then he turned to Park Ji-sung. 'Look at Ji, he's come all the way from South Korea...'

Wes Brown played under Ferguson at United for more than a decade (Action Images)

"As the boss talked about our stories, we began to realise that he was referring to a fellowship. We were not just a football team - we were people from every corner of the world, from all kinds of cultures and races and religions.

"And now we were there, together in a dressing room in Moscow, fighting for a common cause. Through football, we had become brothers.

"'THIS is my victory!' Ferguson said. We all got goosebumps. Then we went out and won the Champions League. That's Manchester United. That's why I love this game."

Wayne Rooney added: "In the big games his team talks were very good. Before we won the Champions League we had 30, 40 minutes on the poverty in Russia.

"He talked about how you have 90 to 120 minutes to play a game and after you’ll go back to your big houses, go back to your nice cars – but these people over here are working to survive, to live, provide."

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