Expect United backlash warns McClaren
Middlesbrough boss Steve McClaren is backing former mentor Alex Ferguson to get the right response from his players as they attempt to revive their season.
McClaren was the architect of Manchester United’s 4-1 humiliation at the Riverside on Saturday, a result which prompted Roy Keane to launch a stinging attack on some of his team-mates.
But with Ferguson’s side hosting runaway Barclays Premiership leaders Chelsea on Sunday, McClaren is warning Jose Mourinho’s men to expect a backlash.
“You get that in football,” said McClaren. “I was at Manchester United when we went to Chelsea and were beaten 5-0.
“I remember that day and I remember after that the response from the players, the response from the manager. That’s what you expect and that’s what Alex will be looking for, a big, big response from his players.
“If he gets that, he will be happy. He’s a fighter, he likes a challenge. For him, this is a challenge and he’ll be laying the challenge down to his players to respond.”
McClaren spoke to Ferguson after Saturday’s game and insisted the United manager was not fazed by what he had witnessed.
“He’s very good,” he said. “Win or lose, he’s always the same. He’s got so much experience of this. He knows you get results like that, it’s how you bounce back, and that’s what he will be looking to.”
Ferguson’s old foe Arsene Wenger is currently making headlines of his own amid a new war of words with Mourinho, although McClaren does not expect things to get out of hand amid talk of legal action.
“The media love it and the public love it,” he said. “It certainly wouldn’t be my style, but there are a certain amount of mind games between managers.
“I do know that goes on – I’ve seen it after working with Sir Alex – and sometimes it does have an effect and sometimes it doesn’t.
“It’s between the two and I’m sure the LMA (League Managers’ Association) in their wisdom will step in if any manager crosses over the line.”
