Sir Alex Ferguson: How whisky and a poker face helped Aberdeen secure greatest win
Aberdeen captain Willie Miller and renowned Scottish football writer Hugh McDonald tell the story in the documentary.
“He’s going to think you’re just here to enjoy the moment,” Miller said of what Ferguson was told about Di Stefano.
“Then go into your dressing room and tell your players that these opponents just think you’re here to make up the numbers.
“He was in the cup final against Real Madrid and he still said to Stein, ‘What would you do?'”
The tactic had the effect of lulling both Di Stefano and Real Madrid into a false sense of security while irritating Dons players.
Ferguson’s Aberdeen flew out of the blocks in Gothenburg.
Eric Black put his side ahead seven minutes before Juanito’s penalty equalized.
The game went into extra time, with penalties imminent, and John Hewitt scored Aberdeen’s winning goal with a header in the 112th minute.
Former Brighton and Hove Albion, Wolves and Aberdeen manager Mark McGhee, who scored the famous goal, also revealed in a BBC Sport documentary how Ferguson Pranks played in both locker rooms.
Aberdeen’s 1983 team, like the Class of ’92 that Ferguson eventually coached in Manchester, put youth first, McGee said: “We were gullible because we believed what he told us. “
McGee’s unwavering faith in his manager was reflected in Ferguson’s support of his players, even before the game began.
After the Di Stefano dinner, Stein immediately contacted Ferguson to see if his plan had been swallowed up by the other party.
“Stein asked the boss, ‘How’s it going?’ and the boss said, ‘1-0,'” Kennedy said. “
