MANCHESTER UNITED hero Mikael Silvestre has opened up about the most unforgettable Hairdryer Treatment he received from legendary boss Sir Alex Ferguson.
And he fell victim to Ferguson’s famous temper despite a team-mate committing one of the most unforgettable goalkeeping blunders in Premier League history on the same day.
Sir Alex is known as one of the best managers in the history of football, but the United great is also notorious for his dressing room blowups that brought chills down every player’s spine.
It didn’t take long for Silvestre to get acquainted with Fergie’s backstage bashing as it took place in his third ever Prem match in 1999 shortly after he joined the Red Devils from Inter Milan.
The former left-back started against Southampton at Old Trafford and saw his team leading 3-2.
But then the ex-France international was dispossessed just outside his penalty box in the 73rd minute by Marians Pahars who set Matt Le Tissier up for the equaliser.
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Ferguson was so furious with Silvestre at full-time that his face turned blood red as he lashed out at him in the dressing room.
The Scottish gaffer also warned his defender to never commit the same gaffe or he would send him “back to France”.
That was despite the fact United keeper Massimo Taibi allowed Saints back into the game by fumbling Le Tissier’s shot in a highly memorable gaffe. The stopper allowed the ball to through his arms and legs just minutes before Silvestre’s mistake.
Silvestre told SunSport on behalf of Betting Expert: “It’s always the first one, it’s the first one you remember cause it takes you by surprise.
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“I didn’t wait long, it was a home game against Southampton. I recovered the ball 35m or 40m from our goal and straight away after I lost it Southampton equalised.
“So we drew at home and my mistake led to Sir Alex being extremely angry and telling me that it was the first time and the last time otherwise he would send me back to France.
“That was super loud and his face became red – super angry at me, which was normal but very intense.”
Silvestre took Ferguson’s warning on board as he went on to amass 10 goals and 20 assists in 361 appearances.
The now 46-year-old also won five Premier League titles, the 2004 FA Cup and the 2008 Champions League throughout his nine-year stint at Old Trafford.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
