Jim Goodwin used Sir Alex Ferguson's presence to his advantage to inspire an Aberdeen against Dundee United.
The new Dons boss watched his side battle back to a 1-1 draw at Pittodrie on a day that was dominated by Ferguson 's presence.
The Aberdeen and Manchester United legend was there to unveil his statue on Friday and was given a standing ovation before the game.
And Goodwin joked his players were very much under pressure with the club's greatest ever manager watching.
Goodwin said: “The ovation he got was brilliant. He shook my hand on the way up to the directors box so I knew he was there.
"I said to the players just make sure he’s not coming into the dressing room at half time telling us where we’re going wrong.
“We were down to the bare bones but the boys gave everything.”
Goodwin managed to spend some time with Sir Alex on Friday and then he had to cancel breakfast with his family on Saturday morning, to go and meet him again.
He added: “He’s been an absolute gentleman as I knew he would be. Yesterday I had a good conversation with him for about 10 minutes.
"He has been dragged here and there and everywhere, believe me but he spent an hour with me this morning.
“My wife and kids were all looking forward to having breakfast together as I haven’t seen them for a week but I had to break the news to them I wouldn’t be standing Mr Ferguson up as he had told me to come for a coffee at 9am.
“It’s been one of the most manic weeks of my career but I have to thank everyone for the welcome they have given me and Lee Sharp here.”
Ferguson took a bow in front of his new statue before the game on the outside concourse of the Richard Donaldson stand, surrounded by dozens of adoring fans of all ages.
The 80-year-old had been at Pittodrie with some selected fans and a number of his former players and staff for his trophy unveiling.
He remained in the North east to take in the game against United - an opposition he knew well jostling with Jim McLean in the 1980s and the emergence of the New Firm.
‘Fergie fever’ had very much gripped the Granite City. This was Aberdeen’s first sell-out since the Boxing Day game with Celtic back in 2018.
It was new Aberdeen manager Jim Goodwin’s first home game in charge of Aberdeen but he was very much the support act for another former St Mirren manager who had made the same move to Pittodrie 44 years earlier.
Aberdeen fans had been raising funds for a special pre-match tifo to mark the occasion in the Richard Donald Stand.
It saw hundreds of red cards with the new statue on it held up and a giant flag of it at the front.
It was in full display when Sir Alex was introduced to the crowd just before kick off. He walked out to a standing ovation and then a giant banner across the Richard Donald Stand listed all the trophies he had won in eight years at Pittodrie, from the 1979-80 title win to the 1986 Scottish Cup.
He won 10 cups with his crowning glories being the European Cup Winners Cup and Super Cup.
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