Football
Arindam Rej, Man United Correspondent 7y

Graeme Souness: I would have taken Manchester United job in 1989

Graeme Souness has said that he was ready to replace Sir Alex Ferguson as Manchester United manager in 1989.

Souness was Rangers boss at the time when he was reportedly targeted by prospective United owner Michael Knighton, but the takeover was not concluded.

The Scot, who had been a Liverpool legend on the pitch after winning three European Cups, told the Daily Mail: "Fergie was having a difficult time and the banners were up in the Stretford End.

"I was manager of Rangers but I would have gone there. Damn right. I was flying. I am not sure how well I would have been received and I am sure United supporters will look upon that as a lucky escape now! But I would have taken it."

Souness instead went on to be appointed as Liverpool manager in April 1991 and had a troubled spell in charge, eventually leaving after a shock FA Cup defeat against Bristol City in January 1994.

Liverpool had played Auxerre at home in the UEFA Cup in November 1991 and, after the game, Souness was told about Nimes player Eric Cantona.

Souness said: "We had played Auxerre at home and Michel Platini came to see me. He said he had a player -- a problem boy but a proper player. Cantona. I said the last thing I needed was another problem player.

"I had 30-pluses that I was trying to get out so I didn't need more hassle. I said I was looking for something else. I said 'no thanks.'"

Souness also spoke about how former United goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel wrote to him as he was a Liverpool fan and wanted to meet him.

That approach was also rejected, though, as Liverpool were having difficulty trying to ease out Bruce Grobbelaar and had just signed David James.

Souness added that he sees parallels between his time at Liverpool and what is happening at United now.

"Look, everything I did when I was manager at Liverpool was wrong but the scenario at United now is exactly the same," he said.

"The only difference is that it was one man for 25 years at United, whereas we had gone [Bill] Shankly, [Bob] Paisley, [Joe] Fagan, [Kenny] Dalglish. But the point is the squad needed changing, as it does at United post-Fergie.

"Moyesy [David Moyes] signed [Marouane] Fellaini and [Juan] Mata [for United]. Then [Louis] van Gaal spent big on [Angel] Di Maria and [Anthony] Martial. Now it's £100 million on [Paul] Pogba. It's like there is no patience or strategy.

"What United had under Fergie, and Liverpool had during the great years, was to go out and buy a couple of players and it didn't matter if they didn't do it straight away. They could be absorbed and allowed to settle down.

"But United are having to buy players to be an instant success. They haven't got time. They are buying players under pressure and then those players are immediately under pressure. And that's hard."

Souness added that United manager Jose Mourinho "knows his neck is on the line in his job like never before" and captain Wayne Rooney should not have been pictured out drinking while on England duty because of his responsibility as a leader.

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