Van Persie: Ferguson told me he’d stay for three years
The ESPN FC panel discuss if and when Manchester United’s summer spending will pay off
Robin van Persie says he was hit hard by Sir Alex Ferguson’s decision to retire after 27 years in charge of Manchester United.
Last year, former United defender Rio Ferdinand revealed that Ferguson’s decision to step down at Old Trafford “took the wind out of everyone’s sails” but “the person it hit more than anyone was Robin” – and Van Persie admitted that he has not really got over the exit of the man he left Arsenal to train under in August 2012.
Robin van Persie has scored three times this season, including a last minute equaliser against Chelsea © Getty Images
“Rio is a great guy. He talks a lot but there is some truth in that,” Van Persie told Dutch newspaper De Volkskrant. “My decision to come to Manchester was partly because of the presence of Ferguson, or, excuse me, Sir Alex.
“He told me he would stay for another three years. I enjoyed his approach.
“We were once 18 points clear of City but we lost at home 2-1. We were still 15 points ahead but he was furious. Then I realised he’s a winner.”
United are currently suffering their worst start to a league season since 1986, when Ron Atkinson was sacked to be replaced by Ferguson, and Van Persie has admitted his own form has not been good enough.
Van Persie finished his debut season at Old Trafford as the Premier League’s top scorer with 26 goals as United won their 20th title, but has netted only three in nine games so far since the arrival of compatriot Louis van Gaal – who has told the striker he must start delivering in front of goal.
He managed 12 in the league under David Moyes during an injury-hit campaign last season, but knows that his standards have not been met this year either.
“Three goals in nine games is not enough,” he said. “Against Chelsea I had a nice chance and I had three options: chip it, go round the keeper or just [shoot] straight at the goal. I chose the last and safest. If I wouldn’t have thought it over I would just chip it. I just have to trust again in my intuition.”
The 31-year-old, however, believes that United just have to get used to a new way of life. “We train more and more intensely than in previous years. We have to get used to that.”
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