As Michael Owen prepares to go back to Anfield as a United player, another player to break the unwritten rule, Paul Ince, has reflected on his respect for Sir Alex Ferguson, their fallings out and why he left the club.
“I was playing golf with Ryan Giggs in 1995 when the phone rang. It was Fergie telling me he was at the clubhouse,” said Ince. “I walked in and before I could say anything, he said: ‘We’ve accepted an offer from Inter Milan, you’re off. I’ve got Nicky Butt coming through and I want to give him a chance.’ That was it, my United career was over. I was stunned, not to mention gutted, and it was difficult to forgive him even though I did have a great time in Italy and it made me a better player. Then when I came back to England with Liverpool, he called me a ‘Big-time Charlie’ in the papers and that really hurt me. I had the scars to show how much I’d given for United and to tar me with that brush was unforgiveable. It also meant I had to take crap from United fans which also hurt.”
It’s hard to believe Ince’s version of events, given that he was a player who had previously talked about his dream of one day playing in Spain. Managers don’t tend to sell English players to European teams without at least having a chat about it first.
Ince admits they did have their fallings out though, namely after United beat title rivals 3-0 and Ince chose to go on a mazy run, before losing possession and seeing the ball go straight back towards his own goal. Despite United not conceding, the manager was not impressed with Ince’s attitude.
“Back in the dressing room, the boys were buzzing,” Ince retold. “Three-nil against one of our nearest rivals and, honestly, we cruised it. Cue lots of laughter, jokes, congratulations, until you-know-who walked in. He went ballistic, called me all the names under the sun, asking me who the fuck I thought I was, hammering me into the ground. I was astonished, then I grew angrier and angrier and I started giving him some back, asking him what the fuck he was going on about and giving as good as I got. We didn’t talk to each other for three days. He was fuming, I was sulking and we avoided each other at the training ground until the Friday before the next game when it was a head tennis competition. Fergie appointed himself umpire – and gave every bloody decision against me! The worst thing was, I couldn’t call him on it because I wasn’t talking to him! At the end, he caught my eye and smiled. He then pulled me to one side, told me I’d been out of order against Norwich and pointed out that you treat every game properly until the final whistle blows. You know what? The old sod was right, too. It’s a lesson he taught me as a manager – never let players get away with anything.”
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Don’t argue with SAF.
How will life be after Fergie? How will our future managers be able to deal with players like Ince?
ever since he kissed the liverpool badge after scoring against us ive no doubt what fergie thinks about him is right, little pric. good player but little pric
Ince is a filthy bin dipping badge kisser – so he can piss right off, any abuse he received from United supporters he deserved
At the end of the day what did Ince achieve at Liverpool? He joined from another club, Inter, so not the same as going direct from United to the Dippers. You can’t expect players who have been tossed aside to respect the unwritten rule of not playing for our rivals.
Ince was top for United, yes he got a bit carried away with the whole “Guvnor” thing, but so what?
Owen has done the exact same thing, the only difference is Owen has a genuine chance of winning silverware with us, Ince never did with the Scousers, it was just a place for him to play football…nothing that could ever emulate his success at United. He’s grown up since then though, he talks politely about Fergie despite everything and takes the shit from the United fans quite well to be honest. There have been worse behaved ex players, thats for sure….see Carlitos.
I like “Fergie appointed himself umpire – and gave every bloody decision against me! The worst thing was, I couldn’t call him on it because I wasn’t talking to him! At the end, he caught my eye and smiled. ”
I like this part. It makes me more fond of Sir Alex. I do worried about who the next manager when Fergie retired. I have liked Man United from Sir Alex. The first player i like was Beckham and the first and last manager i like was Sir Alex. Well i better stop my memories and stop being emotional. Let’s win the match in a few hours time!
Go fuck yourself Ince.
When this little asshole used to come to Malta I thought he was Mr nice guy, I thought he was a gentleman,I thought he was a Man Utd man through and through but when I knew that he joined Utd as a stepping stone to go to Italy ( his prefered destination was Sampdoria)I realisid I was mistaken. He was only after money and after bringing attention upon him. Yes he is a BIG TIME CHARLIE. Then he joined the dippers and there were he put his image in front of the world very low. so low that I won’t be too hard on him to call him a cheap MERCENARIE !!!!!
@ Island Red
exactly my thoughts on the issue.
Incey was a great player for Utd, undoubtably along with Eric, Big Pete & Sparky one of the reasons we finally won the title in 93. I was gutted when Fergie sold him to Inter and I believe Ince when he says he didnt want to leave. Saying that, I was at Anfield in April 99 when Ince equalised for the dippers and stood in front of the Kop kissing the scouse scum badge. Sadly (& maybe unfairly) all the good work ince had done at Utd was forgotten. He will never be regarded as a Utd great and he only has himself to blame. We will never forget or forgive!!
Paul Ince was a great player for us and spent his best years at United,he dragged us kicking and screaming over the line on many an occassion.Personally I was very biter when he joined the scum via Inter Milan and called him every name under in conversations with fellow United fans for many years after.However when Sir Alex and him buried the hatchet a couple of years ago,I too decided to forgive Incey.Instead I remember his contribution to our glorious history and tell myself he only joined them to prolong a flagging career.
Good riddance, stop living off your United career of years back. He was a top player for us but has to stop talking about the past.
“Charlie what’s the score, Charlie, Charlie, what’s the score!”
Ince was a bottler. He coughed up a shit pass against Everton in the 95 Cup Final that almost went for a goal against, then shrank away from the rest of the match. We needed a big man to overcome the previous week’s heartache, and he packed it in. England in how many shootouts where he wouldn’t step up and take one?
Guv’nor my ass. Robson and Keano showed us the difference between someone who thinks he’s hard and someone who truly was.
SB
“Unforgiveable” A tad over dramatic and petty wouldn’t you say! That self pityness must have been driven into him when he joined them murdering scouse cunts.
fuck that bastard..scumbag..dirty..clueless..i dont even know y im talking about him……..united>ince