'Robson ordered Man Utd players to pub - serving as tactical analysis' says Giggs

Ryan Giggs recalls Bryan Robson ordering the Manchester United players to go to the pub for a couple of pints after games and how well it served for tactical analysis.

The United team in the 1980s was famous for its drinking club during a different era of football and as well as being 'captain marvel' Robbo was also at the centre of this.

Giggs only coincided with Robson right at the end of the legendary captain's time at United with him retiring in 1994.

And looking back, Giggs reflects now on the aura that Robson had in the United dressing room and how he also "commanded respect" even from opposing teams.

While after games, Robson was also a leader in creating a bond among the players.

The players would talk through games in the pub afterwards and discuss tactics in an age before it became much more formal and analytical.

United players would go to Mulligans, a bar which was part of the Four Seasons hotel in Hale Barns, south Manchester.

And the players would continue to go there after matches long after Robson's time and the likes of Giggs or Andy Cole could be seen there up until around 2000.

Giggs talking to Rio Ferdinand began by telling of the respect the players had for the captain.

"Bryan Robson was coming to the end of his career, but every game that Robson started we never thought we were going to get beaten, he commanded that respect with us and the opposition," said Giggs.

"I hadn't seen that before, Roy (keane) later had that impact where he was starting a game we didn't think we were going to lose.

"We did of course, but we didn't think we would because we had that power, aggression, leadership in the team that is the biggest sort of compliment I could give him."

And looking at his leadership he also told how Robson would be the second off the coach after away games, following Alex Ferguson, and he made it clear that everyone had to go to the pub.

"Away games, getting the coach everywhere, we get the coach back, the manager would get off the coach first and then Robbo would stand up and say 'everyone Mulligans two pints'," said Giggs.

"After the two pints you can go home or you can stay out. It was part of team building, there were no mobiles, we were in the pub, we were talking about the game.

"It would be like, 'you should have passed' or 'he should have done this', and all of a sudden 'I made that run' - we were actually doing a tactical analysis."