Steve McClaren explains what it was like being assistant to Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United

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Steve McClaren has opened up about what it was like joining Sir Alex Ferguson’s staff at Manchester United during his first spell at the club.

Sir Alex Ferguson decided that Steve McClaren, who was a pioneer for data analytics in football at the time, was the man to be his new assistant at Manchester United.

Brian Kidd, the former assistant to Ferguson, was a popular man, so it would be no easy feat replacing him.

McClaren, who is now on the coaching staff at United under Erik ten Hag, has explained, via The Guardian, what it was like coming into the best team in the country and the early dilemma he faced.

McClaren’s Manchester United dilemma

The Englishman, who was sceptical of Ferguson’s interest when he was informed of this by a journalist, received a call from the great man himself and confirmed that he would be joining the club.

When he did arrive, Ferguson told him to watch and observe as United steamrolled Nottingham Forest in an 8-1 win at the City Ground.

The result was so emphatic, McClaren turned to another United coach Albert Morgan and said: “Is it always like this?”

“Oh my God, what the hell do I do?” he also thought to himself. “How do I coach this team?”

In the end, McClaren focused on the one goal United conceded and that was his early way in with the players.

McClaren on Ferguson’s demands

The former United assistant has also revealed just how intense training was and the huge difference between being a coach at Derby County and at United.

“It was a massive, unbelievable difference from Derby,” McClaren revealed. “The players were very focused, very competitive. One of the main things at United was about the intensity that the gaffer wanted in training.

“You’ve got to work hard in training. The level of work, the intensity of work and the competitiveness were top.”

Ten Hag is seemingly trying to recreate that culture at Old Trafford and, despite going through a sticky patch this season, the players, and coaches, are still behind him.