[ad_1]
Sir Alex Ferguson was reluctant to name Cristiano Ronaldo as Manchester United captain because he did not want to harm the team’s morale, according to Gary Neville.
Neville enjoyed a brilliant five-year stint as the Red Devils’ boss, but was disappointed in his role due to a number of injury concerns.
But, when the right-back came up with the idea of handing over the armband to one of the club’s biggest stars, including Portuguese superstar Ronaldo, Neville received a firm response from Ferguson.
And the former England defender has lifted the lid on the Scottish legendary stance.
“I was injured a year after taking the captaincy and that became really difficult for me,” Neville told Sky Sports.
(Image: Daily Record)
“I felt like I wasn’t contributing as I should be a captain for my past four years. In fact, I went to see Sir Alex in the preseason around the third year that I was captain.”
“We had an incredible team: Ronaldo, Rooney, [Carlos] You look [Ryan] Giggs [Paul] Scholes [Michael] Carrick [Rio] Fernando [Nemanja] Vidic [Patrice] Evra [Edwin] van der Sar … there were some great personalities and players in that group.
“I walked up to Sir Alex walking towards the training ground and said, ‘I no longer feel worthy of holding the captaincy. This team is at a level where I can’t compete. “
(Image: Getty Images Sport)
“He said, ‘You’re going to keep that bracelet, son.’ The reason he gave me: ‘You and Giggs will rotate it. If I give it to Ronaldo, Rooney will start. If I give it to Rooney, Ronaldo will start. If I give it to Vidic, Fernando will not be “happy. ‘
“So literally I think Giggsy and I kept it going for three or four years beyond that simply because of the camaraderie in the locker room. We were cops, if you like, senior statesmen.”
“Sir Alex wanted to make sure the team came first. Although I felt unworthy as captain at that stage.”
[ad_2]
