Lee Sharpe has insisted that an “early” part of Manchester United’s success under Sir Alex Ferguson must be credited to the impact of one club legend at Old Trafford.
The 53-year-old former Manchester United winger arrived at the Red Devils in 1988 after Sir Alex Ferguson snapped him up from Torquay United.
Lee Sharpe, who came through the Torquay United youth academy, went on to make 247 appearances for United and scored 34 times and registered 29 assists.
During his time at Old Trafford, the former United star lifted three Premier League titles, a European Cup Winners’ Cup, two FA Cups and a League Cup.
Sharpe would leave United in 1996 and went on to play for the likes of Leeds United, Bradford City, Exeter City, Grindavik and Garforth Town before his retirement.
Sharpe on Man Utd legend’s influence
Speaking to the World Football Index, Lee Sharpe hailed the impact of Manchester United legend Bryan Robson under Sir Alex Ferguson.
Bryan Robson remains United’s longest-serving captain in history and ‘Captain Marvel’ was an influential figure on the pitch and off it at Old Trafford.
The 67-year-old former United midfielder retained the captain’s armband after Ferguson left Aberdeen and arrived in the Old Trafford dugout in 1986.
Ferguson waxed lyrical about the impact of Robson at the Red Devils and called the United legend his best-ever captain ahead of Roy Keane.
“Those were great times. Part of our early success was down to Bryan Robson because he was an unbelievable leader and like a manager on the pitch,” Sharpe said.
“He dictated the pace of play, how we played, what we did, and what went on during the 90 minutes while we were on the pitch.”
Sharpe talks Ferguson and Man Utd
Ferguson called it time on his legendary career in the managerial dugout in 2013 after leading United to their last Premier League title win.
The 82-year-old Scotsman is widely regarded as one of the best managers of all time after his impact in England with United and in Scotland with Aberdeen.
Sharpe opened up about his time under Ferguson’s tutelage at Old Trafford and how United turned into a powerhouse in English football under his watch.
“The manager obviously did his own work and we were given a lot of information about the teams we played,” he continued.
“I think one of the biggest things for us was losing the league to Leeds. That really galvanised us as a team, as a unit.
“And then after that, winning the Cup Winners’ Cup against Barcelona, that gave everybody the confidence that we could go to the next level and beat anybody if we put in the performances.
“Then following that, we went on to win the first Premier League title. And after that, the belief went up and we just won one after another.”
from United In Focus https://ift.tt/uCPGMsi