Manchester United star Ashley Young pays emotional tribute to Sir Alex Ferguson as Jose Mourinho’s side prepare for West Ham
MANCHESTER UNITED'S players were in reflective mood as they arrived for training after Ashley Young described how he was "deeply affected" by Sir Alex Ferguson's emergency surgery.
News broke on Saturday that the great Scot had been taken into hospital and needed emergency surgery after a brain haemorrhage, although he is now said to be "awake and talking".
Young, 32, described his distress at hearing the news over the weekend, while getting on with training ahead of the club's clash with West Ham on Thursday.
He told TalkSport: "I was deeply affected, sad and I was lost for words. You can only hope and pray that everything is going to be OK.
"Everyone at the club is wishing him all the best and his family as well.
"He is a great man. I have the utmost respect for him as all the players you speak to will have."
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Fergie, 76, signed Young from Aston Villa in 2011 for an undisclosed fee and used him initially as a winger, but Jose Mourinho has deployed him as a left-back after leaving Luke Shaw out of the first team.
Young won the title in 2013 under Sir Alex, which turned out to be the Scot's last act as a manager.
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He added: "Sir Alex is a fantastic person on and off the field. He has been fantastic for me.
"To bring me to one of the biggest clubs in the world was a fantastic feeling for me.
"He is a fighter and hopefully in the coming days it will be positive news for his family and himself.
"He is a born winner and a fighter."
Addressing his former manager directly, Young added: "Sir Alex, all the best, I hope you get well.
"You are a fighter and a winner and we want you out of the hospital and back with us."
United face West Ham in the Premier League at the London Stadium on Thursday and then Watford at home on Sunday.
They face Chelsea in the FA Cup final at Wembley on May 19, and will be hoping to dedicate a victory to Sir Alex.