Stiles definitely perceived a resemblance in Sir Alex to his former manager, Sir Matt Busby.
As the three-year mark of Ferguson’s tenure approached, the team faced challenging times, with only the FA Cup victory at the conclusion of the 1989/90 season helping to quell the naysayers and lay the groundwork for the remarkable success that was to come.
Amid rising skepticism about the manager’s future, Stiles voiced his confidence: “I’ve heard plenty of nonsense since I returned five months ago,” he remarked. “But those who are doubting will be proven wrong, just wait and see.”
“Remember, Sir Matt had his share of challenges too. I recall times when we suffered six or seven defeats at Old Trafford, yet we went on to achieve everything possible.”
“Sir Alex mirrors Sir Matt in his approach to running the club. He is establishing the right frameworks and understands the importance of nurturing talent from our own system. That’s where Brian Kidd and I come into play. We’re focused on the 11 to 16-year-olds, and with any luck, we’ll develop the next generation of legends like Best and Charlton from our efforts.”
