Alex Ferguson

You can't applaud a referee.

Human beings of today are more fragile, whereas people born in wartime, during the Second World War, eventually became the great players like Pele. They were fantastic players.

One of the things I always thought about as a young coach was finding solutions to things that happened, but the most important thing I always referred to was never giving in.

I think you have a duty and a responsibility to entertain. We have to always remember that there's a public to be entertained.

Bobby Charlton's record was quite substantial. I couldn't think anybody would beat that. It is an achievement par excellence.

The time I have already spent at Harvard has been a stimulating experience, and I look forward to developing my relationship and activities with the students, faculty and friends of the Harvard Business School community.

Her Majesty said she hoped I would have time for my horses - I own two and have shares in four.

The culmination of three trophies was the pinnacle of my career and it has been rewarded with a knighthood.

There are members of the London press who seek to antagonise me, deliberately.

I feel sympathy for the working class lad. I've always championed about ticket prices and try to equate that to people's salaries.

Myths grow all the time. If I was to listen to the number of times I've thrown teacups then we've gone through some crockery in this place. It's completely exaggerated, but I don't like people arguing back with me.

If my parents were still alive, they would be very proud. They gave me a good start in life, the values that have driven me, and the confidence to believe in myself.

Sometimes in football you have to hold your hand up and say, yeah, they're better than us.

You are responsible to each other because when you win a game of football, you only need eight players to perform well.

I don't like losing but I've mellowed. I maybe have a short fuse but it goes away quicker now.

If I have my health I can carry on. There will be a point when I do quit but I have absolutely no idea when that is.

I tell the players that the bus is moving. This club has to progress. And the bus wouldn't wait for them. I tell them to get on board.

Sometimes you're not sure about a player. Sometimes you doubt. Sometimes you have to guess. Sometimes... you just know.

Well, football is a hard game; there's no denying it. It's a game that can bring out the worst in you, at times.

I do believe in fate.

I've never played for a draw in my life.

In England, it's a rare thing to see a player smoking but, all in all, I prefer that to an alcoholic. The relationship with alcohol is a real problem in English football and, in the short term, it's much more harmful to a sportsman. It weakens the body, which becomes more susceptible to injury.

As long as there are games to play it is not over.

I'm going to tell you the story about the geese which fly 5,000 miles from Canada to France. They fly in V-formation but the second ones don't fly. They're the subs for the first ones. And then the second ones take over - so it's teamwork.

The work of a team should always embrace a great player but the great player must always work.