How Antonio Conte Caused Ryan Giggs To Have Bust-Up With Sir Alex Ferguson

Manchester United legend Ryan Giggs has revealed that Antonio Conte caused him to have a rift with Sir Alex Ferguson back when Juventus and United squared off in 1996.

United played the Bianconeri in Turin and lost 1-0. Giggs, who was 22 at the time, was totally frustrated and completely outdone and outwitted by the magnificent midfield trio Juventus had; Frenchman Zinedine Zidane and Didier Deschamps and captain Conte made up Juve's dream midfield in their 4-3-3 formation.

Because of the performance of Conte and his midfield partners, Giggs barely had a sniff and grew so frustrated that he had a bust-up with boss Sir Alex Ferguson in the dressing room after the game.

Writing in his column for The Telegraph, he said:

"I will never forget the first time in my playing career I came up against Antonio Conte because it was the night that I ended up in my first big argument with Sir Alex Ferguson and there was only ever going to be one winner in that situation.

"It should be said that in the absence of any options my attempts to dribble out of midfield that night were at the less successful end of the scale.

"My argument with Sir Alex ended with me throwing a drink which hit a kit skip and landed at the feet of my boss. I knew exactly what was going to happen."

Giggs, who was subsequently fined a week's wages by Fergie, went on to shower praise on the Italian, who has led Chelsea to 11 straight wins in the Premier League, where they currently sit six points clear of second-placed Liverpool at the top of the table.

He said:

"Back then I could tell that Conte was a leader, and a very accomplished player.

"I see something of that great Juventus side in his current Chelsea.

"First of all, that Juventus team was built on an excellent defence, and that very aggressive pairing of Paolo Montero and Ciro Ferrara, who are different players to the three whom Conte has at Chelsea but equally effective."

Never get on the wrong side of Sir Alex Ferguson...

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Topics: Chelsea, Manchester United, Sir Alex Ferguson, English Football, Premier League, Juventus, Champions League, Ryan Giggs, Italy, Antonio Conte

Josh Lawless

Josh is a sports journalist who specialises in football and wrestling. He has been published by Curzon Ashton FC, Late Tackle, Manchester City FC, The Mirror, Read Man City and Manchester Evening News. He provides coverage of professional wrestling and has interviewed some of the biggest names in the field - including the first UK interview with The Hardy Boyz after their return to WWE. He has never sported a pair of Lonsdale Slip-ons, contrary to reports.

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