Sir Alex Ferguson Named the 'Finest Goalkeeping Display' He Ever Saw vs Man Utd

 From Premier League icons Frank Lampard and Thierry Henry to Champions League greats Lionel Messi and Ronaldo, former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson faced some of the best players in football history during his decorated, nearly three-decade-long tenure at Old Trafford.

With 49 major trophies across his 36-year management career, the Scottish tactician was always at the forefront of elite competition – leading his Man United teams into battles against the very best on the biggest stages, from title deciders in England to fierce European nights under the lights.

While the 13-time Premier League winner once named the 2010/11 Barcelona side as the toughest team he ever came up against during his time at Old Trafford, Ferguson also once gave his flowers to an outstanding individual performance against the Red Devils, labelling it the ‘finest goalkeeping display’ he ever saw against Man United.

Sir Alex Ferguson Praises Manuel Neuer

‘The finest display of goalkeeping against us’

Ferguson, speaking post-match after Man United’s 2-0 win over Schalke in the Champions League semi-final first leg in 2011, heavily praised opposition shot-stopper Manuel Neuer for the ‘finest display of goalkeeping’ he had ever seen against his side:

“In my time at United, it's probably the finest display of goalkeeping against us.

“I'm sure there have been other feats but tonight I saw a very good one.

“There was a frustration towards the end of the first half when he made that final save from Ryan [Giggs].

“When that move broke down, our players started walking back and I sensed their frustration. I had to correct that at half-time.

“What broke the camel's back was Chicharito's goal that was offside. The players realised then that they could beat the guy. It wasn't easy.”

Man United advanced past Schalke 6-1 on aggregate that season, only to suffer heartbreak at Wembley in a 3-1 loss to Barcelona in the final.

Neuer, meanwhile, departed the Gelsenkirchen-based club after the campaign and joined Bayern Munich, where he has proven himself to be one of the best goalkeepers in football history.

The German shot-stopper revolutionised the role with his sweeper-keeper style and redefined how goalkeepers contribute to their teams through positioning, ball distribution and involvement in attacking build-up.

At Bayern, Neuer became a cornerstone of one of the most dominant sides in European football, winning 12 Bundesliga titles, two Champions League trophies and a host of individual honours.

He also played a crucial role in Germany’s 2014 World Cup triumph and won the Golden Glove as the tournament’s best goalkeeper, keeping four clean sheets in seven games.

Neuer is also one of only four goalkeepers in history to have cracked the top three in Ballon d’Or voting, alongside Lev Yashin, Dino Zoff and Oliver Kahn. The Bayern icon came third in 2014, behind only Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.