Ferguson believes in timely dose of ‘working-class principles’ for Man U millionaires

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has revealed that he keeps his ‘millionaire’ players grounded by making them believe that they are working-class heroes.

Ahead of his 38th season as a manager, Ferguson took time out to meet up with old pals from his days as a striker with Dunfermline in the mid-1960s, men who learned a trade before football became their living and who went back to their tools after hanging up their boots.

“We were working class, the boys today aren’t. Some of them might think they are, but they’re not. Their fathers and their grandfathers might have been, but times have changed,” the Sun quoted Ferguson, as saying.
 
“What you have to do, though, is make them believe in working-class principles, to make them think like they’re working class. You have to make them realize the privilege of working. I tell them working hard all your life isn’t easy, but it’s worth it,” he added.

Ferguson further said that when he was young, he was playing part-time and working as a toolmaker until Dunfermline Athletic manager Willie Cunningham gave him his big break by offering full-time football. 

“All I knew from then on was that I didn’t want to go back to my tools. Don’t get me wrong, there was nothing wrong with being a toolmaker, but once that chance came I was determined to work as hard as I could to grab it and stay in the game,” he said.

Ferguson scored 66 goals in 89 matches for Dunfermline Athletic from 1964 to 1967.