28 November 2023 , 17:51
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Former Manchester United star Paul Ince has opened up on the moment Sir Alex Ferguson got the better of him after a 48-hour standoff during one of United's title winning seasons by throwing his 'Guvnor' nickname back at him.
Ferguson's team won the first ever Premier League title in the 1992-93 season, with Ince one of the stars of the show. However, after upsetting the boss with his antics towards the end of a crucial victory, the midfielder got on the bad side of his manager - with no immediate resolution.
Looking back on the incident 30 years later, former England star Ince admits he was wrong to confront Ferguson after being criticised for his decision-making in a win against title rivals Norwich. A shouting match was followed by a period of silence, and it was Ferguson who ended up getting the last laugh.
“That was it, we got back on the coach, he didn’t speak to me, I didn’t speak to him," Ince told talkSPORT. “We came back in [to training] on the Thursday and were playing head tennis and Fergie was the referee.
"I hadn’t spoken to him for 48 hours, hadn’t said good morning or anything. “It was first to 11, the score was 10-10 and the ball went up in the air, I did an overhead kick, the ball went right in the corner of the court and we won the game 11-10, we were jumping about celebrating.
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“Sir Alex shouts ‘ball was out’ but it wasn’t out, but because I wasn’t speaking to him I couldn’t say anything, it was just bubbling inside me, but because I hadn’t talked to him in 48 hours I couldn’t contest the decision and he said ‘winners them’.
“I’m walking away and all of a sudden he shouts ‘Incey!’. I turned around and he said: ‘There’s only one guvnor here son!’ and I started to laugh and after that we were speaking again and that was it. That was the greatness of the man.”
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Sir Alex Ferguson and Paul Ince would later face off as managers (Getty Images)The Norwich victory started a run of seven straight wins which were enough to see United crowned champions by a 10-point margin. The very next game was one of the most memorable of the entire season, with two late goals from Steve Bruce turning defeat into victory against Sheffield Wednesday.
After sealing the title, Ferguson was asked about the prospect of building a dynasty. He did just that, winning a record 13 Premier League titles, and was cautiously optimistic.
“I think in the modern context of football, I think it’s very difficult to say you’re going to dominate football," he told Sky Sports. “What I think we will do is I think we will be there all the time now, I’m confident of that.
“It’s a very difficult league to win, and now that we’re [in the Champions League ] next year, it will put a definite strain on us, particular if we get into the week situation, where resources will be tested right to the full. But that’s something that we’ve got to accept, accept that type of challenge, and I think the future looks good at this point in time.
“Obviously I won’t be taking my foot off the pedal, that’s not in my nature, and I will certainly be looking for my players to lead the way for me.”