Former Manchester United forward Nani recounted his life under the former coach of the Red Devils Sir Alex Ferguson, describing him as a father who he was very scared of initially.
The 33-year-old Portuguese international recounted how Sir Ferguson “killed” him in the dressing room because he missed a penalty he was not supposed to take. He also revealed that the coach “killed” United‘s legend Ryan Giggs in the dressing room for allowing him to take the penalty.
Nani who said he and Ferguson were neighbours while he was still at Manchester, disclosed that he sometimes drove the coach home after a match or training. He said the day he lost the penalty, he drove the coach home but Ferguson didn’t say a word to him until the next day they met in the dressing room.
Nani joined Sir Ferguson at Manchester United in 2007 from Sporting Lisbon for £23 million transfer fee. He left the club to join Fenerbahçe in 2015, two years after Ferguson retired from Manchester United.
Nani and Ferguson were good neighbours
While at United for 8 years, Nani played 230 matches, made 73 assists and scored 40 goals in all competitions. Under Ferguson, he helped United to win four Premier League titles, the Champions League, and two League Cups.
“At the beginning, I was very scared of him [Ferguson]”, Nani told UTD Podcast. “He was my neighbour and we used to go to London by train.
“His wife or his family used to leave him in the train station so on the way back he has no driver to take him so he was looking for someone who lives close to him to give him a ride.
“So I said, ‘OK boss, I’ll take you home!’ But the day I took him home was after a game against Fulham away, and I was on the bench.
“I was playing unbelievable with a lot of confidence. We won a penalty and it was Ryan Giggs who took the penalties. I felt confident and Giggs didn’t say anything. I took the penalty and I missed.
“The penalty should make it 3-2. We are going back home that day and I say, ‘Boss, I can take you home’. I drove him back home and he didn’t talk to me in the car!
“In the dressing room, he killed me! He said, ‘Nani, who do you think you are? Who gave you permission to take the penalty?! Ryan!’
“And then he killed Ryan Giggs, because he said, ‘Ryan, why did you let him take the penalty!’ Ryan said, ‘He grabbed the ball and I let him.’
“Oh my god, that day was incredible. I took him home and I felt very uncomfortable driving home.
“He is a man who knows how to manage all characters, all different ages, all different personalities.
“My personality at that time, I was young, and not easy. I know that and I learned a lot, I changed a lot. That is life. You must learn.”
