
𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐢𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞
𝐒𝐢𝐫 𝐀𝐥𝐞𝐱 𝐅𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐮𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐎𝐧 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐢𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞
I placed discipline above all else and it might have cost us several titles. If I had to repeat things, I’d do precisely the same, because once you bid farewell to discipline you say goodbye to success and set the stage for anarchy.
The issue of discipline accompanied me throughout my career. In the conversations I had with Martin Edwards before accepting Manchester United’s offer to join them in November 1986, he alluded to the habit of some of the players to drink too much. He mentioned that one of the reasons United had been interested in me was that I had built a reputation as a manager who was known for maintaining discipline and not tolerating poor behaviour.
When I got to United there was a lax attitude towards lots of things, including the clothes the players wore when travelling to games. They used to wear the tracksuits of whatever clothing company was sponsoring them–Reebok, Puma, adidas. It was a royal mess. I immediately insisted that they travel in flannels, the club blazer and tie.
Leaders can also hand down different sentences. Inexperienced, or insecure, leaders are often tempted to make any infraction a capital offence. That is all well and good except, once you have hung the person, you are plumb out of options. I gradually began to understand the wisdom behind the phrase, ‘Let the punishment fit the crime’ and, as judge, jury and chief executioner, I had plenty of sentences at my disposal. A simple yet deadly one was silence, and I used it often. It did not require any public humiliation or tongue-lashing, yet because everyone likes to be acknowledged, the recipient of my silent treatment knew that he was in the woodshed.
I wasn’t afraid of crossing into what some of the players might have considered their private territory–hairstyles and jewellery. I never understood why players would want to have long hair when they spend so much effort trying to be as fit and quick as possible. Anything, even a few extra locks of hair, just didn’t seem sensible.
If you can assemble a team of 11 talented players who concentrate intently during training sessions, take care of their diet and bodies, get enough sleep and show up on time, then you are almost halfway to winning a trophy. It is always astonishing how many clubs are incapable of doing this.
[Leading, Michael Moritz]
#𝙏𝙧𝙪𝙨𝙩𝙏𝙝𝙚𝙋𝙧𝙤𝙘𝙚𝙨𝙨𝙀𝙏𝙃


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