Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair has revealed the management advice bestowed upon him by Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson - and it is brutal.
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Speaking on a BBC documentary to be aired on the channel in full on October 11, Sir Alex Ferguson: Secrets of Success, Blair tells BBC political editor Nick Robinson: "We would talk about man management, and I would say, 'look, such and such, an individual - he might be really brilliant, but he's really really tough, I don't know quite what to do about it."
And the former Red Devils' manager's response? Simple: "Get rid of him."
Blair pushed Fergie for more, pointing out the difference between a cabinet and a football squad: "But how would you be if you got rid of a player but still found them in the dressing room every day."
The advice this time was apparently less straightforward. "That would definitely be a problem," the man who brought 13 Premier League titles to Old Trafford says.
Speaking later in the documentary, Ferguson gives his take on the exchange, explaining: "You have to have control, you're the Prime Minister."
"If they're affecting the control of you, or disrupting the the dressing room, you have to make a decision
"It doesn't matter if he's your best player, if he's difficult, get him out of the room."
Ferguson was renowned for being tough on his players, his angry dressing-room 'hairdryer' treatment becoming the stuff of legend.
"I remember sometimes when we do something bad or we lost some games he kicked the chairs and he kicked the boots, he kicked everything, the waters, the drinks," former United winger Cristiano Ronaldo reveals in the same film.
"And he's so red and, 'F*** you, you should pass the ball, you…' it was unbelievable but it was good - because we learn."
Retired defender Rio Ferdinand also speaks about the perils of taking the fearless leader on at his own game: "We played Benfica away and I think we got beat," he said.
"We didn't play well and he was shouting at me and I thought I was one of the best players on the day.
"So I was going back at him. And the problem is, which I failed to learn quickly, is that the more you shout at him, the louder he gets, and the more aggressive he gets, and the closer he gets to you."
Ferguson retired from football in 2013. He is currently teaching a course at Harvard University entitled "The Business of Entertainment, Media and Sports."
The word on the street is that his students never turn up late.
