'When he apologises I will probably say hello' - Manchester United bust-ups that helped shape Sir Alex Ferguson's greats

Sir Alex Ferguson would famously give Manchester United players the hairdryer treatment in an attempt to draw more from them on the pitch, but there were also times when the legendary manager ramped up the setting to 11 behind the scenes, and certain working relationships became stretched as a result.

Barring one high-profile example, that scenario usually only ever went one way.

United made two things habitual during the 1990s and 2000s in particular when Sir Alex was at the helm; winning trophies and bust-ups. The latter helped contribute to regular and almost non-stop silverware as their unparalleled competitive edge spilled over from training sessions, matches and the occasional knees-up!

Several names spring to mind when thinking about Sir Alex and bust-ups. Footballer-turned-pundit Roy Keane will, almost certainly, be front and centre for any Google search to that tune - while the footballer-turned-pundit hasn't exactly relaxed his animosity towards the Scot since hanging up his boots.

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"As much as I'm not one to hold a grudge, I wouldn't forgive Ferguson," said Keane during his 2019 appearance on the Off The Ball podcast: "The media spin, how I apparently upset everybody, it was all nonsense. I don't care if it's Alex Ferguson or the Pope, you're going to defend yourself.

"When he apologises I will probably say hello to him, yeah. But I've no interest in speaking to the man."

That was not the beginning or end for Keane and Sir Alex and the hard-nosed Irishman has often fired shots at his former manager from the studio or via his two autobiographies. So much he said this, he did that, but the reality is once the toxicity spilled over their