Soccer

FORMER Manchester United goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel has revealed that Sir Alex Ferguson wanted to kick him out of the club.Schmeichel explained that he regretted his reaction to Fergie’s hairdryer treatment after it threatened his position at United.Sir Alex Ferguson wanted to kick one of his biggest stars out of the club after a blazing row in 1994Credit: GettyPeter Schmeichel said he ‘regretted’ the confrontation and had to apologiseCredit: GettySchmeichel recalled the story on the OverlapArguably Man Utd’s greatest ever goalkeeper, Schmeichel has told how Fergie wanted to sack him after the pair had a huge run-in.The heated row followed a 3-3 draw with Liverpool in 1994, after United had been 3-0 up at half-time.Speaking on the Stick to Football podcast, brought to you by Sky Bet, Schmeichel explained: “Sir Alex Ferguson picked on me after a game.”The second half was so bad, but I made a lot of saves and I felt like I kept the team in it. He blamed me for my goal kicks ending up with ‘Razor’ Ruddock every time, who was 80 yards away.read more on man utd”I felt really hard done by for him picking on me. My head went and that was probably my biggest regret in football and I’m not repeating that.”Schmeichel revealed he only saved his Old Trafford career by apologising to his manager and team-mates.The Dane added: “On a Monday morning, he called me into his office and said ‘I’m going to sack you. I can’t have a player doing this’.”And I said that’s fine and apologised to him. He then called a meeting in the dressing room and went berserk. That was probably the worst I’ve ever seen him.”Most read in FootballFerguson and Schmeichel went on to work together for five more years after their royal bust upCredit: GettySchmeichel had a fierce reputation during his playing daysCredit: News Group Newspapers LtdFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALS”He was so angry. He never done that in training before. He left and then I apologised to the team. “My behaviour was so out of order. There are certain things you can do and certain things you can’t do.”‘We are MAD’ – Ten Hag tells raging Man Utd flops to channel anger of Tottenham humiliation into must-win Porto clashSchmeichel was an integral part of United’s winning machine during his eight years at the club between 1991 and 1999. He won 15 major trophies, including five league titles with the Red Devils and finished on the ultimate high of a Champions League triumph to complete a historic Treble.Schmeichel conceded that the exchanges between Ferguson and his senior stars would often be “brutal to watch”.The 60-year-old had earlier revealed that Fergie wanted players to talk back at times and picked certain confrontations by “design”.Schmeichel added: “What I learnt with him is that 95 per cent of everything he said was by design. “He’d been thinking about it. I’m waiting for the opportunity to say that or this.”So he would pick those moments and the good thing about that is once it happened, gone.” More

EX-MANCHESTER UNITED hero Tim Howard has called for a complete DISMANTLING of the squad.The Red Devils’ season went from bad to worse last Sunday when they were thumped 3-0 by Tottenham at Old Trafford.Manchester United’s season is already on the brink of collapse after last weekend’s thumping by SpursCredit: REXPressure is mounting on under-fire manager Erik ten HagCredit: GETTYEx-United stopped Tim Howard insists this current crop of Red Devils aren’t fit to wear the shirtCredit: NEWS GROUP NEWSPAPERS LTDThe defeat has put even more pressure on the shoulders of manager Erik ten Hag, who has vehemently defended his position with his trophy haul since being at the club.But the team’s inconsistency since the Dutchman took charge has prompted intense scrutiny of the £550million he’s spent on his squad, which former Red Devil Howard insists aren’t fit to wear the shirt.In an explosive rant, the retired goalkeeper and NBC Sports pundit said: “They doubled down on Ten Hag and backed him by bringing in more of his players.”When you look at the squad it’s not a brilliant squad, they spent a lot of money on some average players, certainly not Manchester United players.READ MORE ON TEN HAG’If you get rid of him then you have to dismantle this team he has created.”Ten Hag was expected to be given the chop at the end of last season but seemingly saved his bacon by winning the FA Cup.But Howard has another theory for why the United brass didn’t hand the 54-year-old his P45.The American, who made 77 appearances for the Red Devils, continued: “I’m not sure why they didn’t, maybe financial reasons.Most read in FootballBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERS”Or they didn’t have the right person in place to replace him or maybe they truly believed he was the right person.”I’m not sure that it looks that way.”‘He’s done!’ | How woeful tactics & Dalot shocker saw Spurs smash Man Utd to spell end for Ten HagOctober will be a pivotal month in the Red Devils’ domestic and European campaigns and could potentially make or break their season, which Ten Hag is adamant WILL be a “success.”He told Sky Sports: “We are going to make a success from the season.”Nothing is easy, but this is nothing for me to panic about.”We can sort [the problems] out, this team can sort this out.”When asked if he fears he may be sacked if the next two games don’t go his troops’ way, he added: “I’m not thinking about it, I’m not anxious.”We created a togetherness in the summer with the ownership and the leadership.”We made this agreement, and we were all behind it. We know the strategy [is to bring in] young players in a transition period.READ MORE SUN STORIES”They also know in May in all my last six seasons there were always trophies and that is what we are aiming for.”United will be back in action this evening, travelling to Lisbon to take on Porto in their second Europa League outing of the campaign. More