Nemanja Vidic has highlighted the “biggest strength” of Sir Alex Ferguson during the former Manchester United manager’s legendary reign at Old Trafford.
Ferguson brought Vidic to Old Trafford in 2006 for a £7m fee from Spartak Moscow, with the Serbian striking up a formidable partnership with Rio Ferdinand.
During his nine seasons at United, Vidic went on to become club captain and hoovered up the major silverware under Red Devils icon Ferguson.
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The 41-year-old former United defender lifted five Premier League titles, a Champions League and three League Cups before his Old Trafford exit in 2014.
Vidic went on to play for Inter Milan and made 28 appearances for the club, but he was plagued with injuries and officially announced his retirement in 2016.
Speaking on his time working under Ferguson, Vidic praised the legendary Scotsman for his “strong mentality and his strong leadership” at United.
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The United legend also claimed that Ferguson’s strongest attribute was his “communication with the people,” with the ex-United boss labelled a “winner.”
“He was the first one bringing the sport scientist into football, he was not scared to give the chance to the new generations, to young players, and he was the one actually giving the chance to young coaches to run the training session, to play in modern patterns, like Carlos Queiroz,” Vidic told The Times.
“They had new ideas to show because the young generations always think what can be better. The old generation think, ‘This is my way, I don’t want to change.’
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“Sir Alex understood football was always moving but he still kept his identity. He knew what [type of attacking] football he wanted to play but always tried to improve and to be ahead of people, not behind the time. I saw his strong mentality and his strong leadership.
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“What I saw in my 20 years in football, I don’t know any other coach with his ability to manage a big group of people, to communicate with the media, players, staff and have a clear vision of what he wants.
“I believe that Sir Alex’s biggest strength is communication with the people, his direction, and he knows what he wants. He’s a winner.”
Vidic added: “He makes you believe. I had a feeling when he talked to the players that he believes more in them than actually they believe in themselves.
“He gave you that impression that he’s thinking you’re better in that position than anybody, that if someone offered him a player from Real Madrid, he’d say, ‘No, my boy is better, my boy is better.’
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“And he believed it. If you play a good game, he goes, ‘I know, I know, that’s you, that’s normal.’ He has that aura that gave you this feeling of support and confidence.”
Featured Image Credit: FIDE chess/AlamyTopics: Nemanja Vidic, Sir Alex Ferguson, Manchester United, Premier League, England, Football