Rio Ferdinand has revealed that Manchester United's Champions League-winning squad stay in contact through WhatsApp, with one member of that side a constant target of their jibes.
27.04.2023 - 10:13 / manchestereveningnews.co.uk
'Lads, it's Spurs'
Three words that tell us so much more. Sir Alex Ferguson delivered them in an infamous team talk and, together with the 'Spursy' phrase, they have come to define the North London club over the past two decades. The old foes do battle again on Thursday night with United seeking to cement their top four ambitions at the expense of Tottenham.
It's another critical match in a season of so many for Erik ten Hag and Co while Spurs come into the contest under the caretaker management of Ryan Mason after a wretched week. Fergie would be having a field day.
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There seems some conjecture about when his fabled words were actually uttered. The consensus seemed to be at half time of a 5-3 victory at White Hart Lane in 2001, when United came from three down at the break to overwhelm their hosts. More of that in a minute.
But Roy Keane cast doubt on that timeline when discussing the motivational tactic of his former manager. Speaking in 2014 the United great said Fergie had used it ahead of a Spurs home game.
"I thought I knew what the group might need, that we didn't need a big team talk," said Keane. "It was Tottenham at home. I thought please don't go on about Tottenham, we all know what Tottenham is about, they are nice and tidy but we'll f******g do them. He came in and said: 'Lads, it's Tottenham', and that was it. Brilliant."
United's record against Spurs under Ferguson was almost formidable. Across 42 Premier League meetings he tasted defeat just four times. It was perhaps no surprise there was something of a complex within the ranks of the North London club.
The September 2001 meeting perhaps sums it up better than any. Spurs
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