In an interview with Sir “Rotten-Arse” Alex, set to go out this evening on Setanta, TV legend Des Lynam probes the gruff Scotsman, asking him whether he induces trouser-wetting fear anymore. And the answer is no.
Old Rotten Arse said:
“I don’t think there’s the same fear, they treat me more like a great uncle. Some of them can’t believe that I’ve been here for 20 years — Nani is only 19.”
When Des asked him if he had softened, he had to clarify that he didn’t mean stool, in which case Sir Alex said:
“Oh yeah. Maybe not if someone gets my back up, you still go mad. I’ve made this point to Roy. He said to me, you’ve changed and I said you have to change, Roy, otherwise you’ll kill yourself.”
He then went on to talk about fancy wine and helicopters(!):
“I don’t think I’ve changed that much, although some people may say I’ve changed because of wealth and the quality of wine that I drink, but I don’t think that’s down to your personality. You may as well enjoy yourself when you have to enjoy yourself. I took a helicopter down to Peterbor-ough the other day and Mick Phelan [the first-team coach] said I can’t believe it, you used to be the one who used to refuse everybody private planes and helicopters — you’ve changed. I said: ‘Mick, I’m nearly 66’.”
So, like a fine wine, has Sir Rotten Arse mellowed? And if so, could it be because of the fact that he galavants around in Helicopters?