17-05-2025
Man Utd icon sums up club in three words as Amorim compared to Ferguson
Manchester United legend Brian McClair sees some similarities with how the club were when he joined them in 1987 and the current side, who play in the Europa League final on Wednesday
Brian McClair believes the definition of what constitutes Manchester United's DNA can be captured in three simple words - class, humility, dignity.
The former Scottish international striker, who spent 11 years at Old Trafford while Sir Alex Ferguson was restoring the standards first laid down by Sir Matt Busby, has warned that until the Reds rediscover their identity then the lifeblood of the club will continue to drain away.
Ruben Amorim is the latest manager to be tasked with getting the Stretford End arising - and McClair believes a comparison can be made between the club he arrived in the summer of 1987 and the one that now finds itself on a precipice.
United will finish in their lowest league position for half a century - yet still have a chance of qualifying for the Champions League by beating Tottenham in Wednesday night's Europa League Final.
McClair doesn't accept that Amorim's fate hinges on the result in Bilbao. But he does feel that the result will have huge ramifications on the time it's going to take for the glory years to truly return.
'I can't say I've enjoyed watching United this season but the one oasis in the very dry desert has been the Europa League,' said McClair, who joined a club that had not been champions for 20 years when he arrived from Celtic for £800,000 and went on to win four title medals, two FA Cups, the League Cup and the European Cup Winners Cup after Ferguson was handed both time and money.
'I'm even reluctant to say they have played well on the road to the final because I think that they've enjoyed a lot of good fortune.
'I'm pretty sure that even if United lose against Spurs it will have no bearing on whether Amorim is still the manager next season.
'But as far as transfer business is concerned, I would imagine they have got two different plans based on whether they win or lose.
'Qualification for the Champions League is worth upwards of £100million and that will have an effect on both the budget and the quality of the players United will be able to attract.
'Players will always want to come to Manchester United. But can they afford these players if they're not in the Champions League or will they be forced into a cheaper market?'
McClair became the first United player since George Best to score 20 league goals in a season during his first year at Old Trafford - and Ferguson's team came second to Liverpool.
But the next two campaigns saw the Reds finish 11th and 13th as the Scot sold fan favourites like Norman Whiteside and Paul McGrath in a ruthless cull that McClair believes has echoes of the way Amorim has made it clear that players like Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho and Antony are finished.
Winning the FA Cup in 1990 and the European Cup Winners Cup a year later became the springboard for an unparalleled period of United success. McClair said: 'There are definitely comparisons to be made between now and what happened when Fergie arrived.
'Defeats, lowly league positions - and then a welcome cup run to a final. In 1990, it was the FA Cup. Now it's the Europa League. What also intrigues me is the way Amorim has gone about restoring discipline inside the dressing room.
'He's been very candid about what he thinks. He's made it clear that he's in charge and that he will set the tone. I can see comparisons to Fergie in the way that Amorim is imposing his authority on the club.'
McClair added: 'Manchester United's DNA is all about class, humility and dignity. It goes all the way back to when Sir Matt Busby took over after the Second World War. Players, managers and staff have a responsibility, irrespective of whether the club is having success or not, to be an ambassador for certain values.
'The fabric of United has been lost since Alex Ferguson left and I suspect that Amorim recognises that and is doing what's needed to restore things that used to be non-negotiable.
'Fergie made it clear that you had to be special to play for Manchester United. That meant being a good player, or course, but he also made it clear that you had to be someone who was capable of carrying the mantle of all that history.'
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