Ferguson vs Wenger: Keown's funny story amused Rio Ferdinand in 2017

Arsene Wenger and Sir Alex Ferguson are undoubtedly two of the greatest managers of the Premier League era.

While they were clearly very different characters in many ways, they did share similar personality traits.

Both men possessed a fierce will to win and had a tendency to lose their tempers when things weren’t going their way.

Ferguson was far more fearsome but Wenger also had an edge to him – just ask the likes of Jose Mourinho, Alan Pardew and, indeed, Fergie himself.

At the height of the Manchester United vs Arsenal rivalry in the early-2000s, Ferguson and Wenger disliked each other.

However, the relationship between the two eventually softened over time – starting when Arsenal began to become less of a force – and they’d now consider themselves friends.

But how did the two Premier League legends differ in their approach before big games?

Well, Rio Ferdinand (one of the best defenders that Ferguson signed during his 26-year spell as Man Utd manager) and Martin Keown (part of Wenger’s title-winning sides in 1998, 2002 and 2004) revealed all in a funny discussion on BT Sport back in 2017.

“You just never knew what was coming,” Ferdinand said. “If he called you to his office, it was like going to the head teacher’s. He called you to his office and everyone would start laughing at you and you’re going: ‘Oh my God, what have I done now?’.

“You start thinking: ‘What have I done? Have I stepped out of line anywhere?’

“You get in there and he’s like: ‘Are you ready today?’.

“I remember we played against Newcastle away at St James’ Park. We were on the coach and he slapped me on the head. I’m a grown man thinking ‘what are you doing?’

“He went: ‘Craig Bellamy’s been talking about you. He’s told a few people that he’s going