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22nd Sep 2018

‘It’s been a long journey’ – Alex Ferguson opens up on his road back to Old Trafford

Jack O'Toole

Sir Alex Ferguson returned to Old Trafford on Saturday for the first time since undergoing emergency brain surgery in May.

The 76-year-old underwent emergency surgery to treat a brain haemorrhage and claimed that he was a bit nervous returning to the stadium where he won 13 league titles in 27 years between 1986 and 2013.

“I’m really good,” Ferguson told MUTV before the Wolves match.

“Obviously it’s been a long journey and I’m gradually making steps forward, doing what my son tells me and what the doctors tell me, so, yeah, I’m really good.

“I’m a bit nervous, to be honest with you, maybe a bit tense really because I think my last game was Arsenal back in April. It was a long time but it’s great to be back and I just hope we get a win today.

“It’s great to go back to the stadium and it’s going to be quite emotional for me when the game starts, things like that. It had to happen some time and I’ve been looking forward to it. The important thing was getting the right time and the right rest before coming to a game.

“It’s great to go back to the stadium and it’s going to be quite emotional for me when the game starts, things like that. It had to happen some time and I’ve been looking forward to it. The important thing was getting the right time and the right rest before coming to a game.

“It’s bound to be emotional. Particularly when I take my seat in the box. That will be something, you know. I’ll be glad when it gets over and the game starts and I can enjoy it.”

Ferguson added that he was overwhelmed by the amount of cards that had been sent to him during his stay at Salford Royal Hospital and said that it’s great to be back at the football.

“There were thousands of cards, and they kept arriving at Salford Royal Hospital. I’d left by that time but they kept coming and kept coming. The number of emails, texts and personal cards to the house, it was just amazing. It really was.

“I’m overcome by it and overwhelmed by it. I think, if you remember, I did the message to thank the people who had taken the time to send me messages. It was really important to do that.

“Some of the doctors are here (as special guests) who did the operation and I thought it was the right thing to do. It’s great to be back.”

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