@kbrunoon november 6, 1986, scottish manager alex ferguson held his first press conference as manchester united's coach and declared: we will knock liverpool off their perch. at the time of ferguson's appointment, liverpool had won 16 league titles while manchester united had only 7. after two seasons, there was little sign the team could compete and doubts about the project grew stronger. on september 24, 1989, manchester united lost 5, 1 to city rivals manchester city. following the defeat, the press wrote that after three seasons ferguson had not delivered a fraction of a trophy, only disappointment. by the end of the 1989 season, united sat 13th in the table, just five points above the relegation zone. before the defeat on september 24, 1989, the team had gone eight matches without a win. fans displayed banners at old trafford stating: three years of excuses and we're still going strong! united is not aberdeen. club chairman martin edwards was the only man willing to defend ferguson amidst fan anger. edwards gave ferguson one more season under the condition set by ferguson himself: i will take full control of transfers. under ferguson's full control of transfers, he imposed his dominance on english football for more than a quarter of a century. the guardian summarized ferguson's impact: personality, the dressing room, charisma… all of it was shaped by alex ferguson, the man of great victories.

@kbrunoon november 6, 1986, scottish manager alex ferguson held his first press conference as manchester united's coach and declared: we will knock liverpool off their perch. at the time of ferguson's appointment, liverpool had won 16 league titles while manchester united had only 7. after two seasons, there was little sign the team could compete and doubts about the project grew stronger. on september 24, 1989, manchester united lost 5, 1 to city rivals manchester city. following the defeat, the press wrote that after three seasons ferguson had not delivered a fraction of a trophy, only disappointment. by the end of the 1989 season, united sat 13th in the table, just five points above the relegation zone. before the defeat on september 24, 1989, the team had gone eight matches without a win. fans displayed banners at old trafford stating: three years of excuses and we're still going strong! united is not aberdeen. club chairman martin edwards was the only man willing to defend ferguson amidst fan anger. edwards gave ferguson one more season under the condition set by ferguson himself: i will take full control of transfers. under ferguson's full control of transfers, he imposed his dominance on english football for more than a quarter of a century. the guardian summarized ferguson's impact: personality, the dressing room, charisma… all of it was shaped by alex ferguson, the man of great victories.