Quotes from Alex Ferguson

I've never played for a draw in my life.

I'm going to tell you the story about the geese which fly 5,000 miles from Canada to France. They fly in V-formation but the second ones don't fly. They're the subs for the first ones. And then the second ones take over - so it's teamwork.

Only true champions come out and show their worth after defeat- and I expect us to do that.

I can't believe it. I can't believe it. Football. Bloody hell.

There is no evidence that changing your managers repeatedly leads to success, but there is evidence at Manchester United, I was managing there for 26 years I won 38 trophies.

One of the things I always thought about as a young coach was finding solutions to things that happened, but the most important thing I always referred to was never giving in.

If my parents were still alive, they would be very proud. They gave me a good start in life, the values that have driven me, and the confidence to believe in myself.

If I have my health I can carry on. There will be a point when I do quit but I have absolutely no idea when that is.

As long as there are games to play it is not over.

I remember the first time I saw him. He was 13 and just floated over the ground like a cockier spaniel chasing a piece of silver paper in the wind.

Sometimes you're not sure about a player. Sometimes you doubt. Sometimes you have to guess. Sometimes... you just know.

Myths grow all the time. If I was to listen to the number of times I've thrown teacups then we've gone through some crockery in this place. It's completely exaggerated, but I don't like people arguing back with me.

We are very focused this time and our preparation has been better. We maybe made one or two mistakes last time, but not this time.

Evolution happens. There's no football team in the world that has stayed together for time ever more.

You can't applaud a referee.

I feel sympathy for the working class lad. I've always championed about ticket prices and try to equate that to people's salaries.

He is improving all the time. He is only 21 and who knows what he is capable of. (on Cristiano Ronaldo)

Her Majesty said she hoped I would have time for my horses - I own two and have shares in four.

It was time for me to spend more time with my wife. I'm not saying I do spend more time with my wife, because she would throw me out of the house, but we have breakfast together. I never did.

Football management is such a pressurised thing - horseracing is a release. I'm also learning to play the piano - I'm quite determined - it's another release from the pressure of my job.

Human beings of today are more fragile, whereas people born in wartime, during the Second World War, eventually became the great players like Pele. They were fantastic players.

Sometimes in football you have to hold your hand up and say, yeah, they're better than us.

Promise is one thing. Fulfilling that promise is quite another.

The work of a team should always embrace a great player, but the great player must always work.