Rio Ferdinand has admitted that he was baffled at how one Manchester United legend escaped the hairdryer treatment under Sir Alex Ferguson at Old Trafford.
The 45-year-old TNT Sports pundit was brought to United in 2002 after he was signed from Leeds United, with Ferdinand spending 12 years at Old Trafford.
Rio Ferdinand shared a close relationship with Ferguson and previously opened up on the two reasons why the ex-United boss would summon a player to his office.
The United legend appeared on John Obi Mikel’s podcast and revealed how Sir Alex Ferguson was devastated after he failed to sign one legendary former player.
Ferdinand talked about his time under Ferguson and how one of his ex-teammates almost broke down in tears after the Scotsman announced his retirement in 2013.
The ex-Manchester United centre-back boldly claimed that one legendary manager would have struggled to replace Ferguson at Old Trafford after he stepped down.
Ferdinand, who opened up on the one time when Ferguson went crazy at him, was asked about the former United teammate who was never reprimanded by the Scot.
Ferdinand on Ferguson’s treatment of one legend
Sir Alex Ferguson was infamously known for his hairdryer treatment of players and the former United boss wasn’t afraid to put someone on blast in front of everyone.
Rio Ferdinand played alongside a roster of star-studded talent at Old Trafford, including Ryan Giggs, Wayne Rooney, Cristiano Ronaldo and David Beckham.
But the ex-Manchester United and England defender admitted that Paul Scholes avoided being on the receiving end of one of Ferguson’s hairdryer treatments.
Speaking on The Obi One Podcast, he said: “Scholesy. I’ve seen Scholesy get red cards for stupid tackles, it was like the manager used to do that [look away].
“‘Oh what’s happened? Scholesy’s got sent off. I’ll look at the replay later. Sorry, guys.’ Anyway, you’ve been s**t.”
Scholes and Ferguson’s relationship far from perfect
Ferguson has spoken highly of Scholes in the past and the legendary former United manager named him among the four world-class players he managed in his career.
However, Scholes admitted that he made “stupid” mistakes at United and how he feared for his career after he stepped out of line with Ferguson on one occasion.
“It was something stupid that I created myself,” he told Gary Neville on Sky Sports.
“I didn’t really get the wrong side of him – I refused to play a game. I think it was Arsenal away in the cup.
“We’d played Liverpool a day before and he’d left me out of the game, and as you are in those days – or as I was – you’re stupid, you’re young and you probably feel you’re more important than you actually are.
“We were getting beaten 2-0 in the game as well and there was no sign of him bringing me on, and I was thinking he should have done.
“But I had a feeling he was trying to wind me up and trying to save me for the game the night after, which was really basically a reserve game.”