If roles were reversed, history suggests Ferguson’s handling of the Suarez-Evra thing would be exactly the same as Kenny’s.
Certainly in his time at Utd, Ferguson has always thrown a protective blanket over his players whenever they’re under attack from outside, regardless of their subsequent guilt or innocence. Cantona, Schmeichel, Robson, Giggs, Evans, Blackmore, Rooney and even Evra himself are just some of those he has steadfastly defended in the full glare of publicity. He only ever publicly deals with a player when that player directly challenges him or undermines his authority – Beckham, Stam, Ince, and van Nistelrooy spring to mind.
Perhaps this is why United have such a winning mentality…their manager has led the players to believe they are untouchable and that’s the attitude they take out onto the pitch. Some call it a siege or bunker mentality.
Kenny was brought up under Jock Stein and Bob Paisley and their approach was exactly the same. Protect the player in public, deal with matters arising internally. Ferguson is from similar stock.
Kenny and Ferguson both accept that such public displays of loyalty to their players will from time to time damage their own reputations. Both consider this a price worth paying in the interests of the club because for them, nothing and nobody is more important. Both will always ‘take one for the team’.
On this latest issue, Kenny and Ferguson have dealt with their respective players in an almost identical fashion. Both have defended their man and neither will countenance the other side of the argument. The one big difference is, Ferguson has attacked the other man, Kenny has not.
We don’t know how Kenny and the club are handling this internally. Perhaps a decision has already been taken that Suarez will have to go in the summer? Perhaps he has actually been disciplined. I like the fact that we do our business quietly, it’s how we used to go about things. Maybe that’s what Suarez was referring to yesterday when he said all is not what it seems?
Kenny knows that a public reprimand for Suarez now risks alienating arguably his best player at a time the club desperately needs him. It would be true to form if Kenny puts club before self in choosing to deal with this matter when the time suits.
Certainly in his time at Utd, Ferguson has always thrown a protective blanket over his players whenever they’re under attack from outside, regardless of their subsequent guilt or innocence. Cantona, Schmeichel, Robson, Giggs, Evans, Blackmore, Rooney and even Evra himself are just some of those he has steadfastly defended in the full glare of publicity. He only ever publicly deals with a player when that player directly challenges him or undermines his authority – Beckham, Stam, Ince, and van Nistelrooy spring to mind.
Perhaps this is why United have such a winning mentality…their manager has led the players to believe they are untouchable and that’s the attitude they take out onto the pitch. Some call it a siege or bunker mentality.
Kenny was brought up under Jock Stein and Bob Paisley and their approach was exactly the same. Protect the player in public, deal with matters arising internally. Ferguson is from similar stock.
Kenny and Ferguson both accept that such public displays of loyalty to their players will from time to time damage their own reputations. Both consider this a price worth paying in the interests of the club because for them, nothing and nobody is more important. Both will always ‘take one for the team’.
On this latest issue, Kenny and Ferguson have dealt with their respective players in an almost identical fashion. Both have defended their man and neither will countenance the other side of the argument. The one big difference is, Ferguson has attacked the other man, Kenny has not.
We don’t know how Kenny and the club are handling this internally. Perhaps a decision has already been taken that Suarez will have to go in the summer? Perhaps he has actually been disciplined. I like the fact that we do our business quietly, it’s how we used to go about things. Maybe that’s what Suarez was referring to yesterday when he said all is not what it seems?
Kenny knows that a public reprimand for Suarez now risks alienating arguably his best player at a time the club desperately needs him. It would be true to form if Kenny puts club before self in choosing to deal with this matter when the time suits.
