Steve McClaren Shares Insights on His Time at Manchester United
Former assistant manager of Manchester United, Steve McClaren, has shared a rare glimpse into his time at the club, particularly highlighting a moment of tension with star player Bruno Fernandes. McClaren’s tenure at Old Trafford was marked by both challenges and memorable moments, offering fans an inside look at the dynamics within the team.
McClaren joined Manchester United in mid-2022 as an assistant to Erik ten Hag, marking his second stint at the club. His first role was under Sir Alex Ferguson from 1999 to 2001. During his time with Ten Hag, the team faced difficulties in achieving success, but McClaren chose to leave the club three months before the Dutch manager was eventually relieved of his duties.
Despite the struggles, McClaren is highly regarded for his coaching expertise and experience. In a recent interview with The Athletic, he spoke about his admiration for Fernandes, acknowledging the player’s exceptional qualities. However, their relationship wasn’t without its conflicts.
A Clash with Bruno Fernandes
McClaren revealed that the only time he and Fernandes had a disagreement was related to the player not clapping the fans after a match. “We only clashed once,” he said. “He didn’t clap the fans, so we had a bit of a row about that. I think it was Newcastle’s win, 3-0 at Old Trafford (in November 2023).”
While McClaren was upset with the team’s performance, he emphasized that the issue was resolved quickly. “The next day we kissed and made up. He is excellent with fans 99 per cent of the time.”
Fernandes’ Talent and Passion
McClaren praised Fernandes for his remarkable skills and dedication. “I remember his first game at Old Trafford, he picked out long balls and diagonals. I thought, ‘Missing link’. He wants to do everything. He’s really one of the top five players I’ve coached,” he said.
He highlighted Fernandes’ vision and work ethic, noting that the player’s attitude and professionalism were exceptional. “He’s first in, last away. Last on the pitch, doing shooting, practising all day to be better. His personality is great. At times, emotional.”
McClaren compared Fernandes to former United legend Roy Keane, known for his fiery temperament. “And that’s what gives those sort of players the edge,” he added.
Lessons from Roy Keane
McClaren recalled a time when they advised Keane to calm down during his tenure. “We had one spell when we said to Roy, ‘You’ve got to calm down a bit,’ because it was beginning to be a problem. Through the trouble he got into, he used to miss five or six games a season.”
However, McClaren noted that when Keane tried to change his approach, it didn’t work. “So we said, ‘Forget that, be yourself, it’s all right, we’ll miss you for five games, don’t want you to be a pussycat on the field’.”
Fernandes, according to McClaren, exhibits similar passion. “When I used to have to be the referee in training, he’s a nightmare. It’s just passion. He’s fit, he runs around, he scores, he assists, his numbers are phenomenal.”
Successes and Challenges
Despite the challenges under McClaren and Ten Hag, Manchester United managed to secure some victories, winning the Carabao Cup and then the FA Cup in successive seasons. The club’s success in the FA Cup led to calls for Ten Hag to remain, and he was given a contract extension after defeating Manchester City.
McClaren left the club at the end of the 2023-24 season, replaced by Ruud van Nistelrooy. Ten Hag followed shortly after, marking the end of an era for the club.
