Legendary Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson appeared to contradict his dream team selection when discussing the four “world-class” players he managed

Sir Alex Ferguson seemed to change his mind on the Man Utd duo

Sir Alex Ferguson once included two Manchester United players in a dream team – but later insisted they weren’t “world-class”.

Fergie was tasked with selecting a 16-man squad of the best players from 1974 onwards in a Goldman Sachs preview of the 2002 World Cup. Both Peter Schmeichel and Roy Keane made the cut.

Between them, Schmeichel and Keane have 12 Premier League, seven FA Cup and two Champions League medals from their time at United under Sir Alex.

The goalkeeper and midfielder featured alongside the likes of Cafu, Paolo Maldini, Franco Baresi, Roberto Carlos, Zinedine Zidane, Zico and Diego Maradona.

When describing the Dane Schmeichel, Ferguson said: “I have been very lucky to have had the two best goalkeepers in the world over the past 12 years, [Fabian] Barthez and Schmeichel.

“Having to choose one of them is not easy but I have to say at his peak Schmeichel was incredible. [He had] a massive frame, a real winner, brave, quick. He had it all.”

‌Who was the best United player during Fergie’s tenure? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section.

Roy Keane made the dream team before later falling out with Fergie
Ferguson, who managed the Red Devils for an incredible 26 years, was also full of praise for Keane. On the Irishman, he admired: “There is no more influential player in the world today in any team than Roy Keane.

‌“His passing accuracy is always 90% plus in every game. He has [a] marvellous engine and is a great competitor.”

However, Ferguson’s words later looked fairly contradictory. In his 2015 book, ‘Leading’, he claimed that during his time at Old Trafford, he only ever managed four truly ‘world-class’ players.

Peter Schmeichel was included but Sir Alex later insisted he wasn’t world class (Image: Getty Images)
He explained: “I don’t mean to demean or criticise any of the great or very good footballers who played for me during my 26-year career at United.

“But there were only four who were world-class: [Eric] Cantona, [Ryan] Giggs, [Cristiano] Ronaldo and [Paul] Scholes. And of the four, Cristiano was like an ornament on the top of a

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