Ex-Manchester United star talks Alex Ferguson 'went for him' after heated dressing room row

“I said 'Come on then!'”

Former Manchester United star Paul Ince has revealed Sir Alex Ferguson “had his back” after a heated dressing room row nearly spiraled out of control.

Ferguson was famous for his “hairdryer” outbursts and short tempers, but they weren't reserved just for defeat, as the Scot could be just as furious even if his team won.

Speaking on the Up Front podcast, Ince explained why the manager was angry with him despite picking up three points.

“It happened after the away game against Norwich. We were 3-1 up and I had a really good game, I played really well. In the last five minutes I tried to beat one or two with the ball. player, but got caught – that's it.

“We walked into the dressing room and everyone was high-fiving and saying 'what a result'. Sir Alex Ferguson was shouting and I was thinking, 'What the hell is he mad about, we've just won 3-1' ?'

Little did Ings know that he was about to go from the joy of winning a football match to almost coming into conflict with the most powerful man in English football at the time.

“He singled me out – 'You, you're not Ryan Giggs or Andre Kanchelski. Your job is to pass the ball!' I said: 'What the hell are you talking about?'

“He was yelling, getting closer. I didn't. I didn't care what the consequences were, I really didn't care.

“I said to him, 'Manager, you can go f**k off. I'm not giving you a manager, go ahead and do what you want.

“You're complaining when we just won, get out of here.” Suddenly he said, “Don't talk to me like that,” and he walked towards me.

“I said 'Let's do it!' I wasn't prepared to get that from him. But everyone jumped in and that was it. That was the end of the conversation.”

In 1995, Ince left Manchester United to join Inter Milan, and then joined the Red Devils' old rival Liverpool.

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