McLEISH DESPERATE TO BEAT FERGIE
Alex McLeish is desperate to get one over Sir Alex Ferguson at
the weekend but concedes he still holds his old boss in the highest
regard.
In-form Birmingham host an out-of-sorts Manchester United at St
Andrews on Saturday, 11 games unbeaten in a campaign that has
exceeded all expectations to date.
As a player McLeish achieved great success when under Ferguson's
tutelage at Aberdeen, before like many of the veteran Scots'
protégés, breaking into management himself.
Like Steve Bruce, Roy Keane and Paul Ince, the Birmingham boss
has never beaten his former taskmaster as a manager and he admits
it remains a burning ambition.
"The big one for all of us who have played for Sir Alex is to
beat him - but you're not allowed," said McLeish.
"I've never done it. We lost 1-0 at Ibrox in the Champions
League when I was manager of Rangers and then got thumped 3-0 down
the road.
"I've lost two games since I've been here at Birmingham - both
1-0 - so I'm getting closer.
"I do pick up the phone to him sometimes and I get phone-calls
from him.
"We all like to think 'I'm his best protégé' or 'I'm his best
pal' but he's got millions and they are not only players who've
played for him.
"The amount of managers who phone him or are friendly with him
is incredible and they revere him."