Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney admitted to being on the receiving end of several hairdryer treatments under Sir Alex Ferguson, while revealing his favorite player to play with as Louis Saha.
Ferguson is undoubtedly the greatest manager ever to grace the game in England, with the Scot time and again inspiring his teams to success. Rooney believes the Scot is one of the most inspiring characters he has ever met.
"You'll listen to him give a team talk and at the time, you'll think, 'Why's he saying this?' Then it hits you and you're ready to go," he told Shortlist magazine in an interview. "The boss's words always hark back to hard work.
"People win things in football, in business, in life because they work hard and despite all the talent in the dressing room he makes us remember that we must put the hours in. The quality is there. We're Manchester United -- of course it is. But what wins us things is effort."
Ferguson has been renowned for making his feelings clear, during and after a game, with almost every player to put on a United shirt during the manager's 26 years in charge, at the receiving end of a rollicking at one point or another.
"I've been on the end of so many, they all roll into one," Rooney revealed.
"Everyone's different. Sometimes you talk back to him and say what you feel. He's the boss, though, so you listen of course, and he's usually making a valid point.
"He's very different from the man the public see. The football man is hard, he's firm, he gets his point across and he wants to win. When we're travelling or staying in hotels, though, he's up for a laugh with the players. He works hard and is serious, but away from the game he's very bubbly."
John Terry might be in the news for all the wrong reasons off late, but his prowess as a defender cannot be questioned, and according to Rooney the Chelsea captain is the toughest defender he has ever faced. "He's the hardest I've faced," Rooney added. "He's big, good in the air and he's powerful, but he's also a very intelligent footballer who reads the game so well. You come off feeling like you've been in a real game."
When it comes to his favorite partner on the field of play, however, the answer is not as obvious, even if Rooney might have played with the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Robin Van Persie. "I'm going to say Louis Saha," he said. "He's a fantastic player, a real handful for anyone and I just really enjoyed playing off him.
"He was so lively and made great runs in behind. Always making space for others."
