Sir Alex Ferguson showed why he was in a class of his own after the former manager exposed one glaring mistake a Manchester United legend was making.
The 82-year-old Scotsman has been out of management since 2013 after he bowed of Old Trafford for the final time as Manchester United manager.
United captured their last Premier League title under Sir Alex Ferguson at the end of the 2012-13 season and the Red Devils have struggled since his retirement.
Considered one of the best managers of all time, Ferguson had a long-lasting impact in English football – and the world – during his time in management.
The iconic Scot lifted 13 Premier League titles and two Champions Leagues with United, including leading the Red Devils to a continental treble in 1999.
Ferguson was known for bringing world-class players to United and managed a roster of star-studded talent, including the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo.
Ferguson spots flaw in Man Utd legend
Speaking on Rio Ferdinand Presents FIVE, the former Manchester United and England defender recalled his first experience of signing for the Red Devils.
Sir Alex Ferguson broke the British record transfer at the time after he signed Rio Ferdinand from Leeds United for a £30m fee in 2002.
Ferdinand spent the majority of his United playing career under Ferguson and established himself as a linchpin figure in the Red Devils’ backline.
The 45-year-old lifted six Premier League titles, a Champions League and two League Cups at United before his departure in 2014.
Ferdinand’s spell at Old Trafford was inextricably linked to fellow United legend Nemanja Vidic, who forged a formidable partnership with the ex-England man.
Ferdinand revealed when he first arrived at United that Ferguson pulled him to one side after he spotted him doing certain arm motions when he was on the ball.
The TNT Sports pundit added that former United manager Ferguson told him he was creating a “nervousness” in the stadium when he acted out on the pitch.
“When I first joined United, I was coming out with the ball and there was no options, not enough people were showing,” Ferdinand explained.
“He pulled me and said, ‘Rio, you need to stop doing that with your arms on the ball.’ I said, ‘Why?’ and he said, ‘It creates a nervousness in the stadium.’”
Ferdinand’s reaction to Ferguson’s advice
Rio Ferdinand claimed that he initially played down the advice that Ferguson had provided him, despite the Scot already planting the seed in his head.
The United legend admitted that he later learned what Ferguson meant when he was shown a video of him doing it, with Ferdinand understanding the impact it had.
According to Ferdinand, former Aberdeen boss Ferguson showed exactly why the “little details” matter for a manager.
“I looked at him and didn’t say nothing, I just went ‘okay,’ but in my head, I was thinking, ‘What are you talking about?’” Ferdinand continued.
“A couple of weeks later, he got one of the coaches to show me a video and I saw what I was doing.
“I thought, ‘It doesn’t even look good, it doesn’t look right, I shouldn’t do it.’ But I needed to see it, to stop and see the impact it has. Those little details as a manager are so important.”