Will Cliff of Sale (left) and Byron McGuigan on either side of Sir Alex Ferguson. Photo: Sharks Sale
Alex Sanderson, Sharks Sale director of rugby, hopes the «gold» Sir Alex Ferguson shared with the team will help inspire the club's first major silver in 17 years on Saturday.
Ferguson even used his experience of the 1996 FA Cup Final against Liverpool and the infamous white suits worn by United's rivals that day at Wembley to reinforce his motivational messages.
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«To lose, you don't want to lose,» Ferguson told the sales team. «Wishing you all the best on Saturday.
«The point is, I'm telling you, don't wear a white suit, for God's sake!»
According to Sale captain Jono Ross, the players were «chained to his every word» with Ferguson, who has won 13 Premier League titles across the city, telling the team: «You're not here to have fun, you're here to win.» .
For Sanderson, the performance had exactly the effect that was desired. “We thought we were going to try and squeeze some gold out of him and he didn’t disappoint,” Sanderson said. “He kept the guys on their toes and gave really persuasive advice. It wasn't anything new, but when it comes from Sir Alex's mouth, it's gospel, isn't it?
“A lot of what you have to do in coaching is cyclical, as in most professions and industries, there are highlights that repeat, especially at this point in the season with championship winning teams, so a lot of what sir said Alex, confirmed what I had learned and forgotten. Confirmed some of the messages we were trying to get across to the boys to guide and guide them for the rest of the week.
“If we are counting on Alex Ferguson to win us this cup on Tuesday morning, then something is wrong. It's the small percentages he can add and the heightened feeling and hype about how special this week is. It was good to have him in the squad and it was good to have him in our corner.”
Manu Tuyalgi was one of the players Ferguson spoke to in private. The center had previously overheard Ferguson talking when Eddie Jones invited him to play for England ahead of the 2019 World Cup.
The Sale Sharks also used rugby league legend Jamie Peacock ahead of their semi-final victory over Leicester, in which Sanderson confirmed they had lost to Ben Curry and Dan du Prie due to injuries. Asked what Ferguson's main message was, Tuilagi replied: “Victory. Sir Alex was at the top of his game. He knows what he's doing. He talked about how to get into these big games, to get people in order mentally and physically. We can learn from them, from the people who were there and did it. In games, be it football or rugby, you have to get in shape physically. The most important is the mental side, managing your emotions. The fact that Peacock and Sir Alex came and talked to us a little about this is very important to us.”
Ferguson was notorious for using mind games against opponents, but that's one lesson Sanderson won't learn. be a follower, given what he describes as his «love» for several members of the Saracens organization, where he coached for several years.
«No, no [mind] games,» Sanderson said . “The only game is the one on the field. I think what Sir Alex was known for and what we worked on has to do with resilience, perseverance, concentration and a sense of momentum. I know it's a cliché, but it's going to be a weird moment when whichever team goes offline, an opportunity opens up that I believe will win or lose the game for us.
«I still have a deep attachment and dare I say, friendship and love for them (the Saracens), but that is what makes me want to win more. While I hope for the best for them, these are the people you want to beat the most, the people you love the most.”
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