Fergie's blast at Steve McClaren for asking 'what to do' on first day at Man Utd

Steve McClaren has told how Alex Ferguson tore him to when he asked him "what do you want me to do" on his first day as his assistant coach at Manchester United.

With Brian Kidd leaving in 1999, Fergie picked McClaren to take over as his assistant and he had a successful two years at Old Trafford.

McClaren had impressed as Jim Smith's Derby County but it was a big step up at United and he joined a side that was packed with quality and on its way to win the treble.

And the weekend before he joined, he watched United thump Nottingham Forest 8-1, leaving him to wonder how the players would take to him and what he could teach them.

He said: "So I was there wondering what the hell do I do on the Monday morning. I went into his office and I always remember sitting with him.

"He said: 'Alright Stevie, it's your first day are you looking forward to it'. And I said: 'Yes, yes, what exactly would you like me to do?'

"And he swore at me, he went: 'You Steve, look at you sat here, what did you used to do at Derby? What did you do there?"

McClaren was wondering what to reply and before he could say anything Fergie barked: "Whatever you did there son is why you are sat here now, get yourself out there and coach."

And so McClaren said how he was given "a clean sheet of paper" about what to do.

He continued: "I was fortunate because I had Jim Smith. I was like 'oh my God what do I do', it was daunting.

"Jim was different to the gaffer but just as fierce and I'd had four or five years with Jim and it was a great education for stepping in to an environment like that which was a real harsh one and you had to know what you were doing."