How Man United took a leaf out of Roger Federer’s book

Roger Federer’s mentality has always been key to his success and former Manchester United first-team coach René Meulensteen has revealed how they copied a thing or two from his playbook during their 2008 Champions League final success.
The Red Devils faced fellow Premier League side Chelsea in the 2008 final in Moscow and Sir Alex Ferguson’s men went on to win the match on penalties.
In an interview with Simon Yaffe for our sister site Planetfootball.com, Meulensteen explained he used Federer to inspire the Manchester United players.
“I am a keen tennis fan and I have always admired Roger Federer and the way he controls his emotions,” he said.
“I selected five clips of Federer for the boys to watch and asked them to write down which tournament he was appearing in, which set it was and which point.
“They would identify, say, Wimbledon as the competition, but they couldn’t tell me which point or set it was.
“The point I made to them was that wherever Federer was playing, he was winning and performing at the highest level when it really mattered.
“He would win the first set, then lose the second and the third but, by the time the game reached match point, everything which had happened before didn’t matter because he was so focused on winning.”
READ the full interview: René Meulensteen says Roger Federer helped win Man Utd the 2008 UCL final
Latest
-
Tennis News
Alexander Zverev goes ‘back to his family roots’ as he leaves Roger Federer’s management firm
Alexander Zverev confirms changes to his team.
-
News
Tennis players’ isolation complaints given short shrift by Victorian Premier
A total of 72 players are unable to leave their rooms.
-
ATP Tour
Kevin Anderson on potential ATP-WTA merger: ‘There have been no real discussions’
No ATP-WTA merger talks underway.
-
Australian Open
‘Players upset’ over privileges afforded to Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Dominic Thiem
“It’s not apples and apples here, but apples and pears.”
-
News
More Australian Open players go into isolation taking number up to 72
Forty-seven had already been quarantined.
-
News
How Australian Open players are keeping themselves occupied in quarantine
A total of 47 players forced to quarantine.
-
News
Australian Open preparations rocked by fourth positive Covid case
A positive test was returned on a charter flight from LA.
-
News
Players were made aware of isolation risks on arrival to Australia – Craig Tiley
Forty seven players to remain in their hotel rooms.
-
Australian Open
Andy Murray’s waiting game as anger mounts after tennis players fly in for Australian Open
Will Andy Murray be allowed to fly to Melbourne?