1. The fragility of today’s players
Sir Alex said: “Players these days have lived more sheltered lives, so they are much more fragile now than 25 years ago. I was very aggressive all those years ago. But today I’m more mellowed… And I can better handle those more fragile players now.”
Daniel Read, a Professor of behavioural science at Warwick Business School, questioned whether it wasn’t just age that had calmed Sir Alex. “In the past he may have gotten away with what these days you might call bullying,” he said. “If the managers from 50 years ago were in the game today they could well end up in court.” Psychologist Oliver James said: “I don’t necessarily believe the players are fragile. They only end up in a top team having worked hard, and many of them are from working class backgrounds. But there has been a significant increase in the amount of narcissism in society