With Alex Ferguson's 'Never Give In' documentary out this week, stories of his uncompromising temperament have been flowing thick and fast.
One of the players with whom Ferguson is said to have had a pretty placid relationship was Paul Scholes, but a story of a game away to Newcastle saw that famous volcanic temper.
In 2001, United lost to their north-eastern namesakes 4-3, and Scholes told The Robbie Fowler Podcast about the aftermath.
Paul Scholes on Alex Ferguson
“I had a few [rants], some lads will say I didn’t have any," Scholes said.
“I remember one at Newcastle when Newcastle were a really good team. He left me out, we were 3-0 down and he brought me on with 20 minutes to maybe, 3-0.
“We got it back to 3-2, I’m not saying it was anything to do with me, made two chances, made two goals, but nothing to do with me.
"Anyway, got it back to 3-2, we were flying creating chances.
“I tried a back flick in the middle of the pitch on the halfway line, they broke away and I think Shearer scored, that made it 4-2.
"We got it back to 4-3 and then in the dressing room, I’m walking in thinking, ‘I made a difference in that game, I did okay’.
“I had a couple of chances where I should have scored but he went ballistic at me. You’ll never play for this club again and all that type of stuff because I made that mistake on the half-way line.
“I was never, ever one to answer back, people like Giggsy always answered back, even Becks would say something but, I don’t know why I just kept saying ‘b***ocks’. I just kept saying that to him, no matter what he said.
“I don’t know what I was doing, I was frightened to the death of the man! I was on the way back on the coach thinking ‘I’m going to have to look for a new club here’.”
They eventually kissed and made up.
“Monday morning, he came straight over to me. I’m thinking he’s going to fine me two weeks’ wages here. He said ‘I’m sorry, I realised you did make a difference in the game, what happened after the game was an overreaction’.
“That was the quality of the manager. If he thought he’d made a mistake he’d quickly rectify it.”
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