Ronny Johnsen: Sir Alex Ferguson was special, a great man-manager

The former Manchester United player recently came to India for a grassroots football program.

It’s not always that one comes across a treble-winning football star of yesteryear in the capricious city that Mumbai is. It’s also not usual for an illustrious sporting figure from Europe like Ronny Johnsen, who just weathered the cold waves of the winter merely a few weeks back to adapt to the volatile nature of this city’s weather either. Yet as the centre-back and midfielder who donned the Manchester United jersey when it was at its all-time high towards the end of the previous millennium, withstood the soaring high temperatures at 2:30 in the afternoon; and still managed to attend to each question put forward so graciously and with utmost honesty, we sensed the amiability emanating from his persona. [embed]https://youtu.be/ySjsxFUxnOw[/embed] Watch: Ronny Johnsen on Håland, ISL, Manchester United & Ole Gunnar Solskjaer   “I have been lucky to be here before,” Ronny Johnsen started off. “My first experience of being here was a long time ago, back in ’92. I have been a part of Manchester United for a long time now." “I have also been part of some fan events here before. Have really experienced how big a fanbase we have here in India. Now, I am here and looking forward to launch this program, the grassroots project here, ‘United We Play’, with Apollo. So, we have a big market here, the supporting market and I am really looking forward for the kids to come through this project.” [KH_ADWORDS type="3" align="center"][/KH_ADWORDS] Being a Norwegian though, Ronny Johnsen could not help but try to draw a parallel between his United side and the one that takes the field under his compatriot’s tutelage now. “Well of course, it was my biggest time as a footballer,” he remarked, whilst mentioning about the fantastic 1996-2002 spell during which he was a part of the club. “It was a fantastic team, a fantastic coach and we won a lot of trophies. Now, I am rooting for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer to win a lot of trophies too. There are a lot of similarities too, you can see. When I came there were many youngsters coming through the academy, you see again that Ole is making sure that these kids are coming through to play for Manchester United. So, I am crossing my fingers and looking forward to the future,” were his words when asked to reflect upon the years that he spent playing for the Red Devils. Whilst talking to a treble-winning champion, how could we not ponder upon the elephant in the room? A question regarding ‘that’ fateful season, and Johnsen must have sensed the same too. “Oh! There were so many games that season where we pushed our limits, had to dig out a result.” Of course, they did. He continued, “But, one special moment, was the semi-final of the FA Cup against Arsenal. We were one man down and in the second leg (replay), we managed to get a result. Everyone remembers Ryan Giggs scoring that famous goal and I think during that whole season, we had the belief that we can win games while chasing, come back from behind, so that was it.” [KH_ADWORDS type="4" align="center"][/KH_ADWORDS] Out of all the things though, Ronny’s eyes sparkled the most when we talked about Sir Alex Ferguson. There’s something special about the old man, isn’t it? “Oh, he’s a special manager. He’s a great man-manager. He was someone who made sure that he can read every player, made sure that he got out the best of every player. As long as you want to give the best, you can. He would make sure that you play to your best. I think every player played to his potential under Ferguson. He’s still a fantastic person and I see him quite often.” How did he fancy their closest rivals from that point in time though? Like everyone else, Ronny had only kind words for Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal, who dominated the Premier League along with United back in his days. “No, I think it’s always good when you have somebody who pushes you to the limit. Arsenal, at that time, they called them, after the season they did, ‘The Invincibles’. They were a really good team as well, but that’s always going to help when somebody pushes you. They pushed us to the limit. One season they won, the other season we won again.” At a time of gloom for the red side of Manchester, a period where their famed legend seems to have been shoved to the edge, Ronny Johnsen is optimistic enough to pin his hopes on his countryman. [KH_ADWORDS type="2" align="center"][/KH_ADWORDS] “You know, he was nominated for the Manager of the Month in December. Looking back at Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, he is re-building the team and putting a lot of young kids coming through the system. It takes a little bit of time, but still, he is five points (now six) off fourth place, which everybody knows is an important place to get. They have done well, really well against the top teams. As I said, he is re-building. It takes some time, but I am really looking forward to the future.” He further elaborated on what he felt regarding the team’s playing style.“When you look at the games, when you play the big teams, you have to play a certain way and you look at the strengths and weaknesses in your team. Sometimes, you change the formation, you change the tactics, that’s part of football. When you see the young kids coming through and performing, it’s really good and also for the future." “Yes, everyone was disappointed after the City game for example. But City, when they control the game they are really good as well. We still have a chance to come back at them in the (Carabao) Cup. They progress every training, they progress every game I see. Sometimes, there are a little bit of ups and downs, but with young players and trying to re-build things, that’s going to happen.”

Ronny Johnsen during the launch of United We Play program in Mumbai

Coming to Indian football, we asked how India was being looked at as a growing force in world football, especially in Europe, ever since the advent of the ISL. He quipped, “A lot of my former players got down here to play and promote the Indian Super League. This program is to add to that, to ensure that the kids come through the Manchester United Soccer Schools and the coaches that are here, make sure that they learn that. That’s how everything starts. From the grassroots you try to build the future of Indian football and we have to start somewhere. I know the cricket here is big, but I see a bright future for Indian football starting from here!” Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Ronny Johnsen aren’t the only two Norwegian stars to be closely associated with United in recent times. Erling Braut Haaland had a blistering start to his career with Dortmund, adding further salt to United’s wounds after being unable to land him in the ongoing January transfer window. How could we not take Johnsen’s views on the same? He chuckled at first, but then continued, “There are always rumours about. Haaland played at Molde when Ole was the manager there, so there are always connections there. He chose Dortmund, which is a big team as well. He scored a hat-trick, what can I say!?” [KH_RELATED_NEWS title="Related News | Article Continues Below"][/KH_RELATED_NEWS] Furthermore, Ronny Johnsen said, “He has had an unbelievable start to his new club and new career there. But also, looking at the Norwegian side of it, they have a lot of kids coming through, hopefully they can qualify for the Euros. Its been a lot of time I mean, it was back in 2000 when we qualified for the Euros. It’s been a lot of time and hopefully I am looking forward to that now.” The time restraints restricted us from continuing the chat for as long as we wanted to, though. Slipping in a last question of Ronny’s favourite five-a-side Manchester United side he was put on a spot. After a considerable amount of thinking and remarking about how difficult it is considering so many great players have donned that coveted jersey, his list read: Peter Schmeichel, Jaap Stam, Paul Scholes, David Beckham and Ryan Giggs.