Former England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson has recalled when a furious Sir Alex Ferguson made his feelings perfectly clear about one decision involving a Manchester United legend.
Sven-Goran Eriksson left Serie A side Lazio in 2001 and became the first foreign manager to take charge of England after succeeding Kevin Keegan in the role.
The 76-year-old Swede had seen success in Portugal and Italy as a club manager, including leading Lazio to a Serie A title and the Cup Winners’ Cup.
Eriksson took charge of England at the 2002 and 2006 World Cups and Euro 2004, but he was unable to end the Three Lions’ long-running silverware drought.
England reached the quarter-finals of the 2002 World Cup under Eriksson’s watch before suffering a 2-1 defeat to eventual champions Brazil.
Eriksson led England to the quarter-finals of Euro 2004 in Portugal before the host nation defeated the Three Lions on penalties.
Portugal would again inflict another devastating blow on Eriksson’s men at the 2006 World Cup, with England crashing out of the quarter-finals on penalties.
Eriksson on Ferguson and Man Utd legend
Sven-Goran Eriksson famously led England during the so-called ‘Golden Generation’ of the Three Lions, which featured a stacked roster of talent.
England had incredible talent among their ranks of the Golden Generation, including Manchester United legends Wayne Rooney, Paul Scholes and David Beckham.
Wayne Rooney received his senior England debut under Eriksson and the United legend’s inclusion in the 2006 World Cup squad irked Sir Alex Ferguson the wrong way.
The 38-year-old ex-United striker was a doubt for the World Cup after he fractured a metatarsal bone in his right foot in the Red Devils’ 3-0 defeat to Chelsea in 2006.
Speaking in the upcoming Amazon Prime documentary ‘Sven,’ former England boss Eriksson revealed that United legend Ferguson was far from happy with him.
“I said to the players, ‘I can’t see any team which is stronger than us,’ he recalled, as per The Daily Mirror.
“The problem was Rooney, of course. Rooney, as always, doesn’t know where to stop – so I think he created that injury a little bit by himself.
Eriksson added: “I had a lot of phone calls from Sir Alex – strange man when you touch Manchester United in a way he doesn’t like, he stops to be a gentleman.
“He [Rooney] was desperate to play, and whatever you asked him, ‘No problem, no problem, no problem.’ Maybe he shouldn’t have been picked.”
Eriksson’s heartfelt message
Eriksson revealed back in January that he had been diagnosed with cancer and the former England head coach shared a poignant message in his new documentary.
“I had a good life,” he said.
“I think we are all scared of the day when we die, but life is about death as well.
“You have to learn to accept it for what it is. Hopefully, [in] the end, people will say, yeah, he was a good man, but everyone will not say that.
“I hope you will remember me as a positive guy trying to do everything he could do.
“Don’t be sorry, smile. Thank you for everything, coaches, players, the crowds, it’s been fantastic. Take care of yourself and take care of your life. And live it.”
from United In Focus https://ift.tt/Wg0ILBz