There was a certain type of manager who never stopped thinking and learning.
Failure did not frighten them.
If anything, defeat exposed weaknesses, and those weaknesses became lessons.
Through one setback after another, they adapted, improved, and came back stronger.
Ferguson was exactly that kind of manager.
In the Community Shield before the season, Manchester United had been comprehensively beaten by New Manchester United.
Many people claimed Beckham had orchestrated his former club's defeat.
Ferguson knew better.
Beckham had played brilliantly, certainly.
But he had not been the main reason Manchester United lost.
The real problem had been New Manchester United's movement without the ball and their immediate counter-pressing after losing possession.
Manchester United had struggled badly against both.
Ferguson also had to admit that Mourinho's tactical ideas were working.
The league table proved it.
New Manchester United were third in the Premier League despite being newly promoted.
They had one of the strongest attacks in the division and the best defensive record.
Whatever anyone thought of Mourinho, his system clearly worked in English football.
Ferguson had learned plenty from the Community Shield defeat.
One lesson concerned Beckham's departure.
Without him, Manchester United needed new ways of progressing the ball into the penalty area, especially when matches became congested and neither side could find space.
Ferguson had spent decades studying football at the highest level.
His understanding of tactics was exceptional.
So was his knowledge of individual players.
That included Beckham, even after the midfielder crossed Manchester and began producing some of the best football of his career.
Before the latest Red Devil Derby, plenty of pundits had offered Ferguson advice.
Man-mark Beckham.
Sit deeper.
Strengthen the defence.
Ferguson ignored them.
He did not assign anyone specifically to follow Beckham.
Instead, he selected three combative central midfielders.
Kléberson.
Butt.
Keane.
Their job was to squeeze the midfield aggressively.
Ahead of them, Giggs and Scholes also dropped in whenever Manchester United lost possession.
Only Van Nistelrooy stayed high.
The moment New Manchester United tried to build from the back, Ferguson's players pressed.
Hard.
If they could win the ball, they would.
If they could not, they would stop the attack with a foul.
The objective was simple.
Destroy New Manchester United's rhythm before their passing combinations could develop.
Ferguson knew exactly where he believed their weakness lay.
Youth.
If Mourinho wanted to rely on young players, then sometimes he would have to pay for their inexperience.
Cristiano Ronaldo found that out against Gary Neville.
The Manchester United right-back used all his experience to frustrate him.
He stayed tight.
Made contact.
Clipped him.
Leaned into him.
Repeatedly broke his rhythm without doing enough to attract serious punishment from the referee.
Eventually, Cristiano lost his temper.
In the 36th minute, he reacted with an unnecessary elbow.
Red card.
New Manchester United were down to ten men.
For most of the opening half-hour, Manchester United had barely tried to play through midfield.
They fought for every ball.
They disrupted passing lanes.
They committed small fouls.
Then more fouls.
Then more.
Keane led the aggression in the middle, with Butt and Kléberson beside him.
Their priority did not appear to be scoring.
It was preventing New Manchester United from playing.
Cristiano's dismissal was only the clearest example.
By the time he was sent off, Gary Neville had fouled him at least six times.
None of the challenges had been serious enough on their own to earn more than a warning.
But together, they had done exactly what Ferguson wanted.
They had provoked him.
Cristiano finally reacted.
And he was the one who left the pitch.
...
Mourinho stood on the touchline with a face like thunder.
"That old fox planned this from the start."
He knew exactly what Ferguson had done.
Cristiano was young.
Technical.
Proud.
The kind of player who hated being kicked repeatedly without being allowed to play.
Ferguson had set the trap.
Cristiano had walked straight into it.
And he was not the only one being targeted.
Kaká and Palacio had also been fouled repeatedly.
Every time New Manchester United began to establish their passing rhythm, Manchester United disrupted it.
"Damn that old bastard," Mourinho muttered.
Across the technical area, Ferguson was chewing gum and chatting calmly with Queiroz.
He looked perfectly satisfied.
With New Manchester United reduced to ten men, the balance of the match had begun to shift.
Football momentum could change quickly.
When one side lost control, the other often sensed it immediately.
Mourinho gestured furiously towards his players.
Stop getting dragged into battles with Keane and the others.
Manchester United were not pressing simply to win possession.
They were pressing to interrupt the game.
Mourinho wanted his players to simplify things and move the ball through midfield more quickly.
Ferguson had anticipated that too.
Ferdinand stayed tight to Drogba.
The England defender, who in Ethan's previous life might have been the player caught up in the missed drug-test controversy, was instead fully available here.
And he was excellent.
Drogba could barely get free.
Without their target man functioning properly, New Manchester United lost one of their main routes into attack.
That left Palacio as their biggest threat.
Again and again, the Argentine tried to create something through individual skill from wide areas.
At half-time, Mourinho adjusted the system.
Palacio was given even more freedom.
He could move across both flanks rather than remaining fixed on one side.
The rest of the team were told again to avoid unnecessary midfield battles.
Despite being a man down, Mourinho did not think the match was lost.
Manchester United had not created much in the first half because so many of their players were committed to controlling midfield.
A win was still possible.
At the very least, Mourinho wanted a draw.
Then the second half started.
Manchester United suddenly attacked.
A quick transition sent Giggs racing down the left.
He reached the byline and crossed.
Van Nistelrooy, who had barely been involved all match, exploded towards the near post.
Curtis reacted a fraction too late.
The Dutchman reached the ball first and stabbed it past Čech.
1-0.
Ferguson immediately charged out of the dugout.
He threw both arms into the air and celebrated directly in Mourinho's direction.
It was impossible to miss the message.
Mourinho had celebrated extravagantly during the Community Shield.
Now Ferguson was returning the favour.
"Careful, old man, you'll burst a blood vessel," Mourinho muttered angrily as he turned away.
Then he began shouting at his players.
They had switched off after the restart.
Manchester United had punished them instantly.
As the second half continued, Ferguson returned to the same midfield pressure.
With the extra man, Manchester United were now able to control far more territory.
Palacio still created problems.
He remained New Manchester United's most dangerous attacker and repeatedly beat defenders through individual skill.
But Manchester United's defence held firm.
Ferdinand was outstanding.
Drogba remained almost completely neutralised.
Kaká's forward runs were also smothered by Manchester United's three central midfielders.
New Manchester United's attack had been stripped of almost all its usual freedom.
The minutes disappeared.
Mourinho began considering changes.
He desperately wanted an equaliser.
But with only ten men, every attacking substitution carried a risk.
Push too aggressively and Manchester United could easily score again.
Then, in the 76th minute, Mourinho's decision was made for him.
Palacio challenged Fortune for the ball.
His ankle twisted awkwardly.
He went down immediately.
The medical staff rushed onto the pitch.
After a quick examination, they looked towards the bench and signalled for a substitution.
Palacio could not continue.
Mourinho turned towards his substitutes.
Messi.
Villa.
Ribéry.
Yaya Touré.
Chiellini.
Attack?
Or protect the scoreline and avoid the match getting away from them?
...
"Mourinho has a real problem now," Andy Gray said.
"Ferguson's tactics have completely disrupted New Manchester United."
"They've been behind since early in the second half, and Palacio was the only player consistently troubling Manchester United."
"Kaká has been forced deeper to find the ball and keeps disappearing into that crowded midfield."
"Drogba has barely had a touch because Ferdinand has handled him superbly."
"And now Palacio is injured."
"This match is getting away from them."
Martin Tyler glanced towards the touchline.
"Look at Ferguson."
The Manchester United manager was leaning casually near the dugout, still chewing gum.
"He looks completely relaxed."
"And I suspect he's enjoying this even more because it's Mourinho standing on the other side."
"The two of them exchanged plenty of words before the match. Now Ferguson seems determined to make sure Mourinho knows exactly who's in control."
Andy Gray laughed.
"That's part of the game too, Martin."
"Psychology."
"If Mourinho gets angry enough to make the wrong decision, Ferguson wins twice."
Tyler nodded.
Mourinho had learned a difficult lesson that afternoon.
New Manchester United's tactical system was excellent.
But no system was unbeatable.
Ferguson had found a way to disrupt it.
"There's another problem for Mourinho," Tyler continued.
"Other Premier League managers will be watching this."
"If Manchester United can frustrate New Manchester United with aggressive pressing, tactical fouls, and constant physical pressure, other teams will try the same thing."
"Exactly," Gray replied.
"So Mourinho has two problems."
"First, somehow rescue this match."
"Second, work out what happens the next time somebody uses the same approach."
On the touchline, Mourinho paced back and forth.
Ferguson remained in the distance, leaning against the dugout and chewing gum as though he had nowhere else to be.
The sight only irritated Mourinho more.
He glanced towards Ferguson.
Spat onto the grass.
Then turned sharply towards his bench and pointed.
One player looked up in surprise.
Messi.
He pointed at himself.
"Me?"
Mourinho nodded firmly.
Messi's eyes widened.
He had not expected to play.
The coaching staff helped him remove his jacket.
He immediately began short sprints and quick changes of direction beside the dugout.
Within moments, he was warming up at full intensity.
"Leo!"
Mourinho called him over.
Messi jogged across.
Mourinho pointed towards Ferguson.
"Do you know who that is?"
Messi nodded immediately.
"Sir Alex Ferguson."
"Forget the 'Sir' right now."
Messi wisely said nothing.
Mourinho continued.
"He's standing over there waiting to laugh at us."
"We're not giving him that satisfaction."
He pointed towards the pitch.
"Do you understand what's happening out there?"
Messi nodded.
"We're in trouble, boss."
"Exactly."
Mourinho leaned closer.
"So when you go on, don't overthink it."
"Use your technique."
"Run at them."
"Move between both flanks."
"Take people on."
Then he pointed towards Manchester United's defence.
"You remember Silvestre?"
Messi nodded.
Of course he did.
Mourinho had already spent plenty of time identifying the Frenchman's weaknesses in tactical meetings.
"He's vulnerable when you make him turn."
"And Fortune is the same."
"Use your feet."
"Use your acceleration."
"If they foul you, keep going back at them."
Mourinho's expression hardened.
"And once you get within thirty-five yards of goal, they'll think twice before bringing you down."
"They know what David can do from a free kick."
Messi nodded again.
He was nervous.
Some of Mourinho's instructions were coming so quickly that he was not sure he had absorbed every detail.
But he was not about to ask the manager to repeat himself.
One thing was perfectly clear.
Mourinho wanted him to dribble.
More than usual.
That was different from much of the academy coaching Messi had received, where combination play and quick circulation were constantly emphasised.
But matches created different problems.
And right now, Mourinho wanted individuality.
Messi accepted that immediately.
A minute later, the number 17 stood beside the fourth official.
The sight surprised almost everyone.
Villa was available.
So was Ribéry.
Both had far more senior experience.
Yet Mourinho had chosen Lionel Messi.
Andy Gray chuckled.
"Maybe Mourinho's thinking, 'You've studied every senior player I've got, Alex. Fine. Let's see how you deal with one you barely know.'"
Martin Tyler watched Messi waiting on the touchline.
"Maybe."
He smiled faintly.
"But I suspect there's more to this substitution than that."
(To be continued.)