Chapter 49: The Ugly Duckling
"Ferguson is very caring and caring for those young players whose talent is ordinary and unremarkable. The difference shown here is the brilliance of the human side of a great coach. ”
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In England, there are many young people interested in football, but very few of them have outstanding talents. These football fans are ordinary fans, they can't play for super teams. While these players will actively look for opportunities, the Premier League is at the top of the pyramid and they will ultimately succeed very little.
In the real world, that's it. For clubs, they generally don't pay too much attention to players who come to their own doors. The attitude of the top league clubs is surprisingly consistent, they do not believe that there are geniuses in the world that have never been discovered, and almost all the children who have introduced themselves are directly dismissed, and the opportunity for trial training is generally not given.
Ferguson is different.
Ferguson values youth training and has a responsibility to himself to promote football and help ordinary people. Ordinary children want professional guidance, and Manchester United have a responsibility to do so.
This philosophy is the embodiment of football giving back to the community.
Ferguson always remembers his own experience of getting a chance as a child, believing that football has meaning for children.
Ferguson will arrange for the coaching staff to give self-nominated players the opportunity to train and will open Manchester United's community football programme to the public. Even if the FA later restricted clubs and formulated material selection regulations, allowing only small players around the club and abroad to be selected for clubs, and shackled the youth training of major clubs, Ferguson still tried his best to popularize football and try to improve the football level of young people.
Su Maozhen and Wu Chongwen of the Chinese junior team were given manchester United trial training opportunities because of Charlton's recommendation. It's also one of the football programmes That United have promoted for a long time. Because Ferguson is community-oriented, countless young players are mentored at United's training base each year. These young players may not be able to become talents, these newborn calves finally have different football levels, many are difficult to join professional clubs, and it is even more difficult to meet the standards of Manchester United, but their trial training at Manchester United is destined to become a rare experience and a precious memory.
Ferguson's warmth and kindness always warmed them.
Gary Neville remembers very well that after Ferguson took charge of Manchester United, the training base became extremely lively. Ferguson's office was also bustling with people, and the atmosphere became very peculiar. 'Those parents came with their kids to ask for Manchester United, and some even school coaches brought the whole team in. Gary Neville leads these "newcomers" to prepare for a trial or "game", like a proud little rooster, leading a bunch of guys who don't know where they came from on a cruise from Manchester United base.
Gary said: "The boss is very warm and polite to everyone, trying to meet their requirements for the Manchester United training camp selection competition as much as possible. ”
'It's hard for the vast majority of these kids to stay, and no matter how confident they are, they'll soon see what the real Manchester United standard is, it's not a spring break or a stage performance. Gary Neville recalls the time and can't help but smile brightly, "They really thought the boss's invitation was a contract, really thought manchester United training camp was easy. ”
Admittedly, joining Manchester United is difficult. Professional football is a pyramid structure, and Manchester United is the top. United's standards have always been among the best in the world, and it's hard to stay without great talent. But many parents and young players actually understand that they are very happy to be able to participate in Manchester United's selection or teaching competitions, to get the guidance of Ferguson's team, and even to have the opportunity to listen to the words and deeds of Manchester United's big stars. If Ferguson is encouraged, it will be enough capital to be proud. Some of them have the confidence to devote themselves to football, some of them have grown up by leaps and bounds, and some have become die-hards of Manchester United and become die-hard fans of Ferguson.
Like Max Longsdale, who once knocked on Ferguson's door and introduced himself.
Longsdale, who was 18 years old at the time, went straight to Ferguson's home and met Ferguson at the gate without any appointment.
Lonsdale said: "I was extremely nervous, I stuttered and said I wanted to play for Manchester United, and Coach Ferguson did not directly reject me after hearing this, which flattered me. ”
Ferguson's attitude determined that Lancedale's football career was turned upside down.
Originally, Lonsdale registered at the Manchester United base and left his own video DVD. However, Manchester United's public relations department obviously did not reply to him in time, which led to the fact that his brain went straight to the door.
Lonsdale thought United had ignored his genius, but he was clearly mistaken. Manchester United really studied him, and reserve coach Joyce thought that Lonsdale was not good enough to meet United's standards, so he was not notified to try out.
In the West, going straight to someone's doorstep without an appointment is considered a very impolite behavior. Lancedale later explained his impulse: "I've tried some teams before and none of them have been successful. I was turned down by Magsfield, who said they were short of money, but I thought it was just a lie to me. They just want big, physically strong players who can rampage for 90 minutes, and I like to pass the ball and pass. I've sent my own videos to other clubs, but I haven't heard back. I felt like I could play at a higher level, so I couldn't help but think of Manchester United, 'Okay, I'm going to go to Manchester United to prove myself.' United ignored my letters, and I thought of going straight to Ferguson. Don't ask me what I thought at the time, I don't know. I'm usually shy, but I'm very insistent on something inside, football is my dream, I feel like I'm going to talk to manager Ferguson and I think I should follow the instructions of my heart. ”
Lonsdale scrambled to find Ferguson's home address, but it wasn't easy to find Ferguson at home. Lonsdale said, "I've been there twice and they've both gone on vacation. The third time I finally met good luck. Mrs. Ferguson came to open the door, and nervously I just asked, 'Hello, is Lord Alex at home?' I explained the reasons for the visit, and I realized that a stranger knocking on the door might scare her. She seemed surprised, and somewhat surprised, and when I said that I would show Lord Ferguson my resume and video, her expression was like discovering a new continent, and she seemed to have a good impression of me. ”
Ferguson was still not at home, and Mrs. Ferguson asked Longsdale to come back at 5 p.m. the next day. "When I drove home, I suddenly felt chagrin and regret." "I was so nervous I couldn't sleep all night the night before, and when I got to his door the next day I couldn't control myself, my feet were shaking," Lonsdale said. Honestly, I don't know if I can succeed. I could only desperately encourage myself and tell myself that I could not shrink back. ”
When Lonsdale came to the door again, Ferguson himself opened the door for him. Longsdale said: "I will never forget the moment sir Alex Ferguson was standing in the doorway. I had never been so nervous and he quickly took me to the terrace where we talked for 15 minutes. I had a hard time recalling the conversation, I was so nervous that I messed up all the words I had prepared. The first thing he said to me was, 'You must have been brave enough to come this way, and I respect you for that.' I boldly told him that I could play at the highest level. He asked me about my style, my age, if I had ever been injured. Obviously he was a little surprised by my answer. ”
Lonsdale broke the rules, but Ferguson was amused and thought the kid was very brave.
Ferguson asked Warren Joyce to call to announce that Lonsdale had come to the trial for two weeks, and the ecstatic Lonsdale was trembling as he answered the phone. In order to clear the tension of the youngster, Warren also told him to believe in himself and not to feel powerless against a world-class star.
"Be yourself and seize the opportunity. This is Coach Ferguson's advice! ”
Lonsdale eventually spent more than four weeks trying out at Manchester United and played five reserve games with the team. He got the same training programs as Manchester United players, physical fitness, skill, team and group play. Every project he has to complete like a Manchester United player that day, and is tested and tested. Lonsdale was so excited that he could train with Fletcher, Welbeck, Clayville, and Rooney, to see Giggs and Scholes with his own eyes, and to listen to Ferguson's live teachings, Longsdale felt that he was really happy.
Lonsdale cherished the trial at Manchester United and made a video of the experience. He said: "My training at Manchester United is very regular and I have played in their reserve team games. The reserve team game video I played in has exceeded 150,000 views and can be seen by many Manchester United fans. They blessed me with such an opportunity and also paid attention to my performance. ”
Lonsdale said: "Everything was like a dream, and I thought for a long time that the experience was unreal. I trained with so many Of The United star players, I drove my Fiesta from next to Nani's Lamborghini in the Carrington car park, and I saw for the first time the countless amazing devices there: they had exercise scientists who checked your body fat, diet and heart rate, trained on observation belts, and read them after practice. I've never forgotten the kitchen in Carrington, where the food is also of high quality, they offer not only chicken and beef, but also a variety of meats and other delicacies, and there are many ingredients that the world can't see. ”
Despite his ability, United did not offer him a contract in the end, and the coaching staff decided he was not up to par.
On the way out, Ferguson unexpectedly recommended Lonsdale to Doncaster.
Ronsdale can't forget Ferguson saying goodbye to him, "It was my last day at Manchester United, I was in the players' lunch area, and he came over to shake my hand and wish me good luck. He also said that I was always welcome back to Carrington to train with the team and that the door would never be closed. I just have to work hard at the next club, keep practicing well, improve my speed, and I still have a chance. ”
This is Ferguson's youth at the helm of Manchester United, and The story of Lonsdale is just one of them. For those who end up leaving United, Carrington's experience is bound to have made a difference in their lives.
Many years later, the Red Devils genius Morrison will also recall the experience of training and growing up at Manchester United. Morrison, who wasted his youth and talent, is a little genius who feels extremely sorry in Ferguson's career at Manchester United. At Old Trafford, Ferguson taught countless times, talked to Morrison countless times, and disciplined the guy countless times, but Ferguson's hard work was always no match for Morrison's damn hobbies and waste of his talents.
In his book Leading, Ferguson mentioned that Ravel Morrison was the saddest example of his manchester United managerial career and was saddened that he had sold him to West Ham In January 2012 because he believed that Ravel Morrison was more talented than his peers, Giggs and Scholes, and was definitely qualified to be a superstar. Even after leaving Manchester United, Ferguson specifically asked then West Ham manager Sam Allardyce to take good care of Ravier Morrison, because he was really a genius. Ferguson still hopes that he can cash in on his talents.
Morrison failed to live up to the expectations of Sir Alex Ferguson and the outside world, but many years later Morrison still received Ferguson's concern and the kindness of those friends in the Manchester United training camp. Ferguson told Sam Allardyce: "Morrison is really a genius, he has top-notch ability and is a good player. If you can solve his off-field problems, he is a genius you get! ”
This is the kindness and enthusiasm that Ferguson showed in his youth training. His youth organisation is also Manchester United's contribution to the surrounding community as a big club and to English football. Manchester United's continued expansion of influence to become the club with the most fans and influence in the world is an integral part of this achievement.