Vidic: Man Utd, Playing with Ronaldo & Nearly Joining Liverpool | The Overlap Exclusive

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1:53That's B-O-M-B-A-S.com and use code audio at checkout. What are you wearing? What are you wearing? So, I joined up with Soccer Aid last night, and Nemanja is the enemy tonight at Old Trafford because he plays for the rest of the world and I play for England, and I've not prepared best, shall we say, for this game. I had a few drinks last night with my colleagues. I can't tell you this, it's not going to be easy, this.

2:19Are these Serbian delights? So there's some Serbian sweets. Which are Serbian sweets? You tell me, Gary, what do they look like? Well, I mean, these Percy Pigs aren't, obviously, are they? Unless Percy Pig was born in Serbia. I just thought that she liked them. Yeah, I get that, Kieran, but which are the Serbian sweets? These aren't sweets, are they? I mean, these sweets... Serbian sweets? Is that Serbian... That's an Eccles cake, mate.

2:48I've got to 7.30 tonight, Anna, to get right for this game. That's the key, replace your salts. All your hearts, guys! Sleep about half one till three. and before you know it, I'll be beating Vida in the air on corners.

3:04I hope this is Ellen and not Nemanja. The last thing I wanted was Nemanja to walk through before Ellen. And I bought you three drinks. Oh, wow. Look at this. Look at this. Is this a Serbian bacon butty? He's going to walk in and go, what the hell is this, isn't it?

3:29Vito, why are you looking at me like you want to kill me? Talking, talking, talking. Please, Gus, shut up. Against Liverpool. That's the game I hate playing. I said I want to play for United, but I didn't say for how much money?

3:47What was he like when he arrived? He was a bit like a rabbit in headlights, really. Him and Ever came in 2006. It took a bit for him to get... I mean, I didn't see him straight away as being a sort of... How good he was. Is this Serbian chocolate, I take it? Yep. Let's have a see what they get up to over there, then. Let's see what their crack is.

4:17Mmm. Good. Very good. There we are. Come on, Emmanuel. I don't need a microphone. Why have you not got the soccer ring gear on? You look smart, by the way. I just came from Holland. Oh, I drank last night, Vida. Yeah, I did a bit as well, just normally. You drank? No, I beat a bit, not much. I drank a lot. Yeah. With Shazey and Carrick. Oh. Why are you not coming in? I don't know. He can come in, can't he? Yeah. He can come in, yeah. OK. How are you? Not bad. Great to see you. Yeah, very good. We've got some Serbian delights for you. You have to sit here. Oh, Peter is there, OK. Was it? That's familiar.

4:55What's it called? Pita. Pita? Pita, pita. When do you eat that? Depends, you know, what kind of diet you have, obviously. Now, like you can see, I'm not eating much of that, but normally... You've always been, like, really, like, strict with your diet, haven't you? Always. You've always been really good in terms of sort of, like, your professionalism. I always remember when you played. Yeah, I tried, and I'm still trying, but I think that was important, especially when I was playing. You know, sometimes, if you remember... You're looking at me now, aren't you? I can see you looking me up and down.

5:37What are you doing, guys, now? Everything. No, I just do the football and then I do... Are you doing the overlap with the guys as well? Yeah, with Roy and with Ian, Cara and Jill. But you're doing the property as well? Yeah, new property. You're the W Hotel. You're the W Hotel. You see them in America. I'm building that one in Manchester. That'll be ready in two years. I'll show you. So that building at the front is finished. That's an office. That's ten floors of office. This is all fully let. How big are your projects? No, it's not more than, to be fair, the one which I invest was 4.5 million.

6:16So what are you building? Apartments? Apartments, yeah. How many with that money? 76 apartments I built One bed and two bed? I've only been to Belgrade once But is it a beautiful place? A lot of construction in the last 10-12 years And to be fair, it's a good place now So if you have an opportunity I think it's good Do you have a property on the river? No, no, I have no on the river But it's on a hill Castle It's a castle It's a castle overlooking my people overlooking people there. No, you're good. I'm happy there. Good. Did you think that when you finished your career that you would go into business or did you think you would stay in football?

6:58No at all. You didn't think you'd go into business? When I was playing for United, I finished my badges for coaching, to coach. You did your B licence and A licence? A and B licence I finished as a player of my United and then when I retired, I finished the pro licence at the English FA and I was thinking, yeah, this is the way I want to go. So you spent like years doing that then? Yes. And then I had a few opportunities but at the time I was living in Milan and I decided that I don't want to move from there because of the kids and family. By the time passing by, obviously, you know, I'm more outside of the football and the rest of the trinities and as well, I'm comfortable in the way I'm living now and what I'm doing.

7:38You think mom was gone? I don't know. My kids now, they're 18, 16 and nearly 14 so maybe in two, three years' time maybe I'll be involved more into the football. and of course that's the idea as well but at the moment I'm happy with what I'm doing and things actually happening in my life so at the moment I'm okay You don't miss it now? If I look at the football now in this moment it's very stressful, it's not easy to be the coach I think we all playing for Man United see Alex Ferguson, we thought this is easy, everyone can do it and we see a lot of Man United players, because of the Sir Alex, they wanted to start to be the managers and coaches and some of them, they have success, some of them they find is very difficult, like yourself.

8:31Thank you. You mentioned there about players that have played under Sir Alex Ferguson and it's been difficult sometimes for some of them to be coaches. Why do you think that is? Why do you think that pattern has emerged? I think the power of the football players. I think they have too much power and because of the money involved, I think the owners as well, they respect more opinion of agents and players than actually of the managers. And I think that's the issue we have now. I don't think now if you have strong character and if you have personality and if you have a conflict with the players, I think you'll be the one leaving the club.

9:11So I think this is the era of the new generation of the manager who should be careful how to talk to the players. In one way, to be a psychologist. You cannot treat all players the same, but as well you have to treat owners, you have to treat the fans. To be fair, Seragis Ferguson was doing great at these things, but I think now it's even more difficult than that time. Take me back to the beginning of your life in Serbia and how that was in terms of how would it be different than a life, obviously, that I had growing up in England? Since I know myself, I love football. I was playing in front of my building with friends, and that's how I was introduced to the football.

9:56And then, obviously, my dad took me to the football academy, and my life, football career, obviously started from there. It was a great life, obviously, at the time. I would say the peaceful until the 91. so actually that was my 10 years so then after we have some issues but not in my neighborhood obviously Serbia, Yugoslavia there was a lot of problems around but I didn't feel it in my town and in Serbia Serbia we didn't feel it it was more in Bosnia Croatia and this part of the world but other than that we have a great life football and sport is something that all young generations in Serbia they're starting to play and it's in our DNA we have been great at basketball, football, volleyball, all sports, and that's the same as any other country.

10:49Who was your hero? I think the players were at Salberg. There were a few players, Prosineczki, Savicevic, Jugovic. He was a fantastic player. But I always looked at attackers and midfield players. We all did, didn't we? We always ended up going back. To be fair, I tried to play. What position were you when you were young? As a right winger. Right winger? Yeah, yeah. How did that go? Probably not that good because I moved back. I started to play fullback and then centre-back. I played fullback because I was the youngest in the team. And I think the coaches always like to give the young players and obviously players that are not developed physically that much to play the fullback.

11:36because I think the centre-back is a very difficult position, a very responsible position. Same as a goalkeeper. I think the full-back, if you make sometimes a mistake, Gazza will be there to help you to fix the problems you made. I know. Thank you, Rio. Rio was on my side. Yeah, I know. I played a few times with you. You did a few times. I hate playing with Gaz. Seriously. Because you are never in a second post. he didn't like to be on the second post. Yeah, you. That was like, I hate. Seriously. What do you mean, to head it away? Yeah, because you say, no, you deal with that. You're big enough, you can deal with that.

12:16Were you a centre-back? Yeah, I know. You just called us small and said that we don't take responsibility. I know, because sometimes when you go playing against the teams, for example, Stoke or other players, you know, that's the second post, they always attack, isn't it? And obviously there was a couch. and sometimes with defenders we like to beat an arrow, especially central defenders. We ask always full bags to get narrow, but Gaz was always used to go forward. He would be very good going forward, as well sprinting back until 16 yards of the box. And then 16 yards of the box, you would say, deal with that, with that.

12:51This is a new development in my career. I thought I was actually okay at the back post. No, but you know something you say that there. I actually remember, because I used to speak a lot, and I don't think you used to like someone speaking as much. No, especially in the mornings. Gaz, fucking quiet. I always remember you saying, but Rio was the exact opposite. Rio used to say, don't go quiet on me. Obviously, you would talk a lot all the time and especially I remember in the mornings, you know, Gaz would come early in the morning and he was sitting two seats next to me. Yeah, Vida was sitting there.

13:24Scholes was here, Vida was there. Yeah. Ollie. And I didn't realise why he's talking all the time when I come in the morning, because I didn't like training in the morning. No. I hated it. He used to look at me like, Vito, why are you looking at me like you want to kill me? No, but I realised he's sleeping at 8 o 'clock, he wakes up at 5 o 'clock in the morning, and he's alone until 9 o 'clock. And he comes to the dressing room and he's like, talking, talking, talking. And I said, please, Gus, shut up. It's true, every day. And you had that look on your face, and he was like, yeah, you weren't very happy.

13:58Yeah, no. To be fair, I'm just saying that in the beginning, coming to England and training in the mornings was really difficult for me. So when did you train with Moscow at Sparta? More afternoon. You train in the afternoon? Yeah, because of the traffic and, you know, to arrive to the training ground takes one and a half hours in the morning. So they pick the timings that they are actually one o 'clock, two o 'clock. So maybe five o 'clock, it depends on the games. So you wouldn't train in the morning at all? No, in the mornings, no. So you weren't used to playing games in the morning either at 12 o 'clock?

14:30You remember me walking at 9 o 'clock in the morning? I would have a walk in one and a half hour to wake up. I didn't have a concentration playing 12, 30 games at 1 o 'clock against Liverpool. That's the game I hate playing. Do you think that's why? Because you had a couple of difficult games against Liverpool, didn't you? Do you think it's because of the early kick-off? Yeah, because all of them we play at 12, 30 at 1 o 'clock. Yeah, it's true. And I find it difficult to concentrate. and my energy is different in the morning. You're probably the most, I think, aggressive centre-back that I've seen at United.

15:03You and Steve Bruce, in terms of heading the ball, when did that come into your game when you were young? When did you start to become someone who really would go and head the ball dominantly? I was lucky in the early days of my career. As a kid, I always played with older players. So I have to be strong, I have to take the tackles and obviously physically they are dominant. and I have to give every challenge 100%. And I enjoy defending, to be fair, since my early days. And that's why probably it doesn't matter what I do, even if I header the ball, if I'm sliding, tuckering, or intercepting, that's my game.

15:46And the generation of defenders, I would say Serbian football, they teach that first what you have to do is to defend. but yeah I think that's that's come from early age who taught you how to defend who was the biggest influence on your career defensively to be fair I'm not fastest I'm not slow but I'm not fastest player in the world and I understand that my game has to be putting myself in a good position and sometimes I will run more to put myself in good position than actually making the sprints I always try to don't put myself to make the sprint if I make the sprint with someone that means that I'm not in good position so So that was my idea as a football player.

16:27Obviously, my timing was good. I was good in the air jumping-wise. I mean, I can jump, but I think my timing was good. If you do the tests in Carrington, you will see that I'm not the highest jumper in the team. There will be the players that will jump more than me, but my timing was good. I always pick the ball in a higher... A good moment. A good moment, yeah. I think that was the characteristics of my game. positioning, interception, timing and putting myself in good position How did you end up going to Moscow? I felt that if I stay one more year in Serbian football I will not improve obviously I was already there for two or three years I did everything I can do in that league and I think that was good the children going to Russia even at that time people didn't know much about Russian football but there was a lot of Argentinian players Brazilian players and I think me going there helped me after coming to United and succeed as a player because if I went early to play in Italian football or English football I don't think I would be ready.

17:38You think that it was a good bridge for you? Good bridge because I play against better players yeah you know I realized you know that I have to prove my game you know There were some Brazilian players, Argentinian players, strikers that had hard games against them. And obviously, you learn from there. Did you always feel like you wanted to go and play in England? Was England always a dream or did you think you just go where they are? Not really. Actually, my dream was to play for the rest of the Alberghut. And that was my dream. Score a goal against Partizan and go with the fans on the stand. And then I come back.

18:14That was my dream as a boy. and obviously when I achieved that I was 20 I think then I didn't have any targets really because I had a small dream I would say and then obviously I had a break of one year which I was a bit not that much professional I was enjoying my life in what way? in a way having money going outside having drinks shame on you luckily I was 20 years at the time what was your drinking then? What would you drink in Serbia back then? Probably my kids will watch this, and I told them that, you know, this is not nice. Whiskey, you know, that was the drink. You'd be a menace on whiskey.

18:58I can imagine you going out at night on whiskey. You'd be dangerous, wouldn't you? No, no. No? Actually, I'm more relaxed when I'm drinking, actually. Are you? I don't remember you drinking even, like, a lot when we had the tea and parties. Listen, I lived in Moscow as well, and so this is the place, you know, I was as well going out. I was young, I would say, 20, 22, 23. So in that time, we all go out and enjoy. Obviously, I picked the times where I would go out. And when I came to United, obviously I had the opportunity to play one of the biggest clubs in the world. And I already went out, did what I did when I was young.

19:36But I came here and I want to check how good I am. Can I play on this level? and my mentality was I would do anything I can to prove myself and to everyone around that I'm the player that can play for United and to try to take the best of my career. That's the reason. How did that happen? Did Liverpool come in for you, Rafa Benitez? Yeah, we talked maybe once or twice, but nothing happened for two, three weeks. Was this before the January window in 2006? Obviously, David O 'Reilly wanted to bring me a very nice villa. he was the one but they have issue with the money so the money for you the money for you or the fee not for me for the fee for the club for the club he was only 6-7 million though yeah but for Osnovilla for them was a lot of money yeah and actually I had a dinner with David Oli he was actually the first one he came for me he came to Moscow to Moscow yeah he was there wow yeah and then Liverpool and Fergie just called me once and said do you want to come to play for United?

20:40I said yes and the deal was done in four days. What was the first conversation like with him? That's the only conversation we had on the phone and then when I met him, obviously when I signed a contract with him and David Gill. Actually the mistake I made at the time, I said I want to play for United but I didn't say for how much money. Wasn't a mistake on his part, he knew what he was doing. Yeah, that's why he hanged straight away. So you said you were going and you've not sorted out your money. So did you get less money from United than you did from Lumpil maybe? No, but listen, for me at the time, it was not about the money.

21:16For me, it was I want to test myself. If I want more money, probably it's better for me to stay in Moscow. You're getting paid more in Moscow than United? Actually, they offered me... I would play... I had a lot more money in Moscow than what I had in Manchester when I came. But obviously, then David Gill and Alex Ferguson told me, like, don't worry, this contract is just the beginning. but no, to be fair, they said we start with this and then if you play like 50 games, it doesn't matter, is it 10 minutes, 5 minutes, then we will change the contract. And after 20 games, 25 games, I signed the contract straight away.

21:51New contract. When Sir Alex rang you, because obviously if Rafa Benitez has rung you and David O 'Leary has come to see you, what made you not say yes to them straight away? Was it because United at the time were... No, I said to... United were successful. No, I was happy to go to Arsenal Villa but they didn't have a... Manon, yeah, okay. That's actually what David O 'Reilly told me. And then Liverpool was waiting too long. And Sarajevo came. Just came in quickly. Yeah, quickly, and he'd done the deal in four days. What did you think when you first came to Manchester? Because you didn't play...

22:25It's cold. We've been in Moscow, eh? It's cold in Moscow as well, but what I find difficult here, it's different culture. I was living in Moscow, but we had like 10 or 15 players, Serbian players, they're playing in different clubs in Moscow. So I have a good social life. Obviously coming here, I was by myself, didn't have anyone really to help me in terms of like friend or some Serbian community. I find that difficult in the beginnings. But after one or two years, obviously, I used to it and I liked it. So we enjoyed it here. And me and my wife, we had a great time. Obviously, we had three kids here.

23:03so they're born here in Manchester but the first six months I find it difficult and especially I find it difficult on the pitch as well Yeah, I look at it you only played 11 games from January to the end of the season and I was looking at sort of the pattern you didn't play in the Carabao Cup final you were on the bench with Patrice I came on you came on a sub what was happening at that time in terms of your communication with the manager because that partnership that you had with Rio or hadn't established at that point? No at all, because to be fair, when I came to the training, I don't think I was ready.

23:38Definitely I was not ready, because I think the Russian league finished at the end of November. And I had a break for one month, and I didn't train at all. And in England, it's the middle of the season. Yeah. And I said to the gaffer, give me two weeks to prepare myself, and then give me the game. Yeah. And after two weeks, I thought, I'm not ready yet. And I was trying to prolong, say, give me one more week. And he gave me one more week. And then, obviously, he gave me the first game after three weeks. But still, I felt like I'm not ready yet.

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26:22What would you have been if you hadn't have been a cricketer? Dead. Hello and welcome to the Overlap Stick to Cricket brought to you by Betfair. I'll be joined by Alistair Cook, Sir Alistair Cook, David Lloyd and Phil Tufnell. Do you see Olly Pope strolling out at number three? Tuffers is more likely to get through his first 20 balls. I think that's a stat. No, that is a stat. It's a stat. We'll bring you analysis, reaction and interviews in what's going to be a huge year for cricket. Two players, Joe Root, Virat Kohli. If you were playing outside our house, I'd shut the curtains. There'll be stories from our playing days, we'll be answering all your questions and we'll be having lots of fun along the way.

27:05Do you get recognised down the abattoir? Do you know what, right? The boomer's going to be crucial. Absolutely the greatest bowler of all time. Would you agree with that? No. No? No. Stick to Cricket brought to you by Betfair

27:23I remember watching you in training in the early days If you just said to me, would you become what you did I would have probably said, I'm not sure Because you were in the first couple of months You were in gigs, you were saying, who is this guy? Yeah, and Paul as well He was like Well you were, yeah I felt a bit, not just from you guys, but even with reserves. Me and Patrice, we went to play the game for reserves. And me and Patrice, we didn't play well. And after 45 minutes, Rene, take us off. I said, enough, guys. And we said, wow, we cannot even play for the reserves. And then I'm coming tomorrow to the Carrington, and you see the boys, they're playing in the reserves, they're looking at you and saying, like, this guy.

28:13and then I realised listen I cannot be nice no more and I started training when do you feel like right ok I belong I settle in after the first pre-season because I had a full pre-season with you guys and next year I played the whole season I was the regular so Premier League even if you are fit you find difficult especially at that time very direct football strikers they're very physical strong. We had at the time Jakubu, Hesky, Crouch, you know, the big guys. Strong guys that didn't really play against in Russian football. They are probably more sharper players, more technical, you know, it's different football.

28:55What was it about United that struck you early? What did you think in that first few months? What was the sort of... Because we weren't successful that three years before we'd not won the league. So it was actually the most difficult period that we'd had. Actually, I felt the tension, you know, and the pressure to win the trophy. But to be fair, I was focusing more on myself because at the time I couldn't really help thinking about, you know, team and, you know, to be present, you know, in a dressing room and trying to be the leader. But, you know, I had to first fix my game and do what I can to be the regular player.

29:30but I felt with signing of Michael Carrick Patrice, myself I think that came new energy because I think even in the beginning we didn't start well but in the pre-season we came, you know, we are hungry to prove and we won the trophy straight away

29:50The 2006-07 season, the first few months of that season, I think it's the best football that I ever played at United so you obviously joined in January that pre-season it was Louis and Rooney up front obviously you and Rio it was obviously Patrice left back but it was Giggsie, Ronaldo, Scholes and Carrick and I always remember playing I don't know, it was three or four games but I played at Bolton away remember Bolton away first half I thought it was unbelievable I think physically we are prepared but I felt that going into the game I was fit I could play 90 minutes without getting tired that year and next year as well I felt that we are physically best prepared for me in my career at United.

30:31When you look back at that sort of first title in that season, did you think that you would go on to create one of the great partnerships with Rio? Did you feel like there was a partnership at that time? When did that feel like this is a good partnership? For me, when we won the first trophy, Premier League trophy, for me it was relief. And then I knew I was a player for my United. Because even if you play well and don't win my United, you're not my United player. That's how I felt. Even playing for the Red Star Belgrade, because it's the biggest club in my country, if you don't win with the Red Star Belgrade trophy, you're not going to be counted as someone that actually be recognized.

31:09After that, I was more confident about my game, about myself. And then, obviously, me talking to Rio, to me, about how we can improve our game, I think was very important. Not just clicking, like, he has ability and me and we understand each other. We talked a lot about it, about certain situations in the game, in the trainings. You remember sometimes, you know, we would go to shave in a sauna, and we would talk about what you think about this and that, and then we tried to understand, you know, each other, what he likes to do and what I like to do in certain situations. And after two years, we didn't really talk about it no more.

31:48Do you understand, guys, what I'm talking about? Yes. Okay. Why? No, because my English, it sounds like... It's amazing. It's good, yeah? Yeah, yeah, yeah. Okay. Yeah, of course. How different was English football to the football you've been used to? What were the main differences? Very direct. That was the biggest difference. They're playing straight away to the strikers. That was something which in European football, they didn't have that much. They would try to play from the back, in one moment try to play between the lines, but not straight to the defender. so you are always exposed as a defender.

32:27You have to take the headers, you have to win your challenges. If you don't win your challenges, your teammates will say, come on, man. And after six months, I was working a lot in the gym, looking at what I'm eating, training well, and that helps. English football, though, was perfect for you, wasn't it? In the way you play. You were someone who loved defending, you loved aggressive, direct play. Do you think? I don't know. I think that, yeah, because I played well. But I don't think if I played in another country, I would not do well. I think that I played international football. I played for the national team.

33:02I played many games, international games. And I think I did well in those international games as well. My issue was coming to United. I never played left defender. I always played right defender. And to be fair, I couldn't pass the ball like five meters with left foot. That was a very issue for me. And then, obviously, you would not talk to the manager saying, yeah, I cannot play left, I will play right. Who told you to play left then? Did you work it out between you? No, no, Garfield said, you're playing left. I would say, just to play, I don't care. If you're playing, I will be happy at the time.

33:36But in general, playing left defender for me was not an ideal position for me. Did you sell him? No, Rio is playing right. What to tell him? When I play right, go on the bench. at the time I was happy to play you know what I mean so there was Mikel Sylvester playing left and Wes Brown playing left so Rio was always right so I had to challenge that position if I want to challenge Rio I don't think I would succeed as a player you know especially in the beginning of career playing for Man United it was me saying that Rio had to stay right so they could cover for me because he was quick maybe you told them I don't want to play with this guy give me Rio here not true That sounds like truth, eh?

34:22What was your relationship like with the boss? Did the boss ever shout at you? I don't remember him screaming or shouting at you. With the managers, I never had a close relationship. Yeah. You know, if he asks me something, I will tell him, you know? Yeah. But I never had that kind of... You know, Rio will sometimes talk with him. Yeah, Rio. Fletch, maybe, you know, there are certain players. Even, I don't know, Paul. Yeah. Even if Paul doesn't speak much, but Gaffer will always like to talk to him a bit, isn't it? Geeksy. yourself. Maybe. But did he shout at you? I can't remember ever. Never.

34:52Because I think what he realised, it's not that he didn't shout at me because he was scared of anyone or that's not for sure. The way you were looking at him, he thought... No, no, no. I think he's... He realised that with certain players it does not help if he's shouting, you know? Yeah. And I think he changed that after Ronaldo thing I think when he spoke to Ronaldo on the half time you know well he shouted at Ronaldo yeah because he shouted on Ronaldo you remember that yeah yeah yeah so I think Ronaldo didn't take that well I think he would pick maybe older players maybe English players yeah British players yeah but he was I think careful with the foreign player yeah yeah take me to the Champions League finals because it's the most successful period that Manchester United have ever had getting to three Champions League finals in four seasons Tell me the one we won That year against Chelsea I felt like that was going to be the start Of a dominant period Because it looked like the team was perfect To go on and continue to be successful I think that since the first title we won I think we are always competing For all trophies So I think we always looked like we can win You know We actually at that final Especially we had a great team We had a big squad Ronaldo all the time was fantastic Incredible I felt that definitely that will be our year.

36:17But on that final, I didn't train for two weeks before the final. I don't know. Do you know about that? No. I didn't train. I had injury. I had my obviously back injury for all my career. And normally when I have that issue, I have nerve going to my calf and then I can run. So for two weeks I didn't train. Last training before Chelsea. And I felt like no chance. I cannot really play. and then Gafa coming to me and asked, Vida, how you feel? And I start to explain to him, I'm not feeling well, you know, I'm feeling a bit. He said, you're playing tomorrow and you left. And I said, wow. I didn't train for two weeks.

36:55I'm playing the Champions League final and I'm playing against Drogba. And I said, I didn't feel really comfortable going on the pitch. I didn't really believe that I can perform well. And then after the first tackle, I won the header I played a good pass and after that I started to relax and I enjoyed the game and I think in the end I think by UEFA I was man on the match probably because Drogba got the red card If he'd have asked you, would you have said no I'm not fit, if he'd have said to you I started to tell him that and he felt what I'm trying to say and he just left That's good management Yeah.

37:43But you're glad he played now. I didn't feel that time that he's good management. No. But in the end, he was right. But you had to play. I mean, I would imagine that would have been his view. You have to play. Yeah, I think he thought that against Jogba, I can do well. And I think for him it was important. Even if I get injured, he would take me out after 15 minutes. Yeah, so I think he wanted me to try and see how it goes. So that's why probably he saved me in those two weeks. He didn't want me to train at all. He just gave me to train on the bike and he waited that last session to see if I can play.

38:16And then go to the year after, we're playing Barcelona. Talk about the first 10-15 minutes because I thought we were going to win that game in the first 10-15 minutes, the way it started. How did that game evolve for you? Because we played against Barcelona the previous season where Messi had been against Patrice but then Messi changes position and then goes as a centre-forward but not a centre-forward, almost in that position. I think that's the time when Barcelona changed, when Messi went to play as a strike. He's great at picking these pockets between the midfielders and defenders. Was it a big problem for you and Rio, do you think, in that game?

38:53Yeah, because they would dominate the game, they have time on the ball, and then you have two wingers which they're running behind, and normally as a defender, if you pick the wrong moment to go high on the pitch, you open big space for Patrice to defend. Or on the other side, it was I think Shazey. Shazey was it, yeah. Yeah, in Rome, if you speak about Rome. So actually it will be difficult for them. So what we try to do is to pick the right moment, but it's difficult when they have control of the game. But you felt confident? Yeah, we felt comfortable, especially seeing that Touré and Pique playing two centre defenders.

39:28And they had injuries with... And yes, we all was playing right back. And I think the left back was... Silvino. and he was 36 at the time and we felt like we can win this we started well we had two chances and then they scored a goal and obviously that's the different game especially at the time they controlled the ball and it was really difficult to play that game especially after they scored a goal that team then goes on to become one of the greatest teams in the history of football I think that was the time when they really had a good season and I remember that I thought that I think the best way to play against Barcelona was to go deep.

40:15I felt. Because I thought we could hurt them on a counter-attack, especially... We did not the M4. Yeah. But I think at that time, you remember in the media I was talking, who is the greatest team, Man United or Barcelona? And there was the stories going in the media, how much is United going to pay? Are we going to play defensively or are we going to play attacking football? Because at that time, I think everyone was bored looking at the games when Barcelona would dominate and everyone was sitting behind. So Alex Fragut was on his mentality and his ideology of his football was always attacking football.

40:53And I think he said, you know, if I look at the players one against one, I think we are a better team. That's how he felt. He always felt like that. and I think if we scored a goal probably it would be a different game but we didn't score the goal but I felt that if we played deeper a bit I felt that maybe we can hurt them all and then that second final against Barcelona that was more difficult wasn't it that was a tough game yeah half time was 1-1 and then second half obviously they dominated the game and then they won so to be fair the ball finals they deserve to win they're a better team but I felt still that we could do better you know in terms of like you know certain things, but credit to them.

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43:10What was it like when the boss left? What was that meeting like when he walked in to tell you all that he was leaving? Shock. To be fair, we know that obviously his age and obviously that issues he has and that he wanted to spend more time with the family. But it was a shock. And to be fair, we didn't think at that time that much what's going to be after when he leave because he told us, I think, the few weeks before the end of the season in our mind was just to finish on a good note and to win the trophy because we wanted as well Sir Alex Ferguson to leave as a winner. What was it like for you when David Moyes came in?

43:53What was that season like? It was a really difficult season where he lost his job in the end. To be said, David came to Belgrade to meet me. We had a conversation. He told me that I would be his captain. He asked me what I think about certain things. I told him we could have a quite open conversation. But I felt that he was insecure. What are you going to do? Is he going to play his football or is he going to let us play in the football we played before? Because it was difficult coming to Man United, having a team which won Premier League, having players that won so many trophies for the club and saying now I'm going to play this kind of football.

44:32We thought that he's going to be more precise in the ideas he want to have on the pitch. I think he was more like do whatever you think is right, you know. Do what you did before. That's something I think that maybe we could do better or maybe I think David it could maybe be more, I would say, character at that time and saying, guys, this is the way I'm playing and I think it will be easier for everyone. Were you speaking to him when it started to go wrong, when the results started to go difficult? To be fair, yeah. Actually, I said and I was open about it. Probably because I was open about it, he thought that I have something against him, which it was not.

45:15If I have something against him, I will not tell him anything. To be fair, I was open, I want to share what I think and I wanted to help. Did he take it that way, though? I'm not sure. You know, it's difficult. I'm trying to put myself in his shoes. Someone telling you in front of the players, you know, boss, we can do this and that. Maybe he thinks I'm challenging his authority. It could be like that. But looking at Alex Ferguson, I think he likes characters. He didn't mind expressing yourself. I think David didn't saw that as genius. he saw that maybe I'm challenging his knowledge but it was not about that it was like I'm trying to take of him what he wants so when I know what he wants I can deliver What was the moment where you realised you were going to leave?

46:06Then when I started talking about it You thought that the club were going to let you go? Yeah because I think David understood that we didn't do well in that season and probably he understands that he has to change certain things and obviously he wants to have his captain he wants to have his players if he wants to play his way he has to bring his players he brings Mata he brings Ferrini and that's normal if I'm the coach I will do the same if you want to play your way you have to have your players and I felt like definitely they would not sign a new contract with me because I have six months left to my contract and I remember Wayne Rooney was the same and they signed with the Wayne first contract and didn't sign with me.

46:48So I understand that he wanted Wayne for the long term. If I'm captain, probably he will talk to me first, but he didn't. So I realized that's it. And I accept that, to be fair. I think that David Moyes is a good coach. I think he's a good man as well. I think he tried his best. Maybe he made a few bad decisions, but we all made some bad decisions and probably now if he's the manager of Manchester United, he'll do differently, definitely. The last time Manchester United won the Premier League, you were obviously lifting the trophy. If you just said that they won't win the Premier League for the next 12 years, would you ever have believed that at that time?

47:30No chance. What do you make of what's happened in the last 12 years? I think my feeling is that Sarri Svogosov left, but as well David Gill left. and I think that's two big personalities, the two persons that have been with the club for 25 years. Difficult to replace. Ed Woodward taking that position, I think, was above his, I would say, knowledge and what he's capable to do. That's my personal opinion. And, you know, obviously he did fantastic for the club in terms of the marketing, you know, bringing money to the club. but dealing with agents, dealing with the players, I think that role has to take someone who has experience with that.

48:19Even to have some ex-football players around to understand how the players think, how the agent thinks. I think at the time, club didn't help themselves in terms of bringing knowledge of maybe ex-football players yourself or post-course or Ryan Giggs or whoever. someone who has experience talking with this agent. Because I think that sometimes even with the salaries, with the money we pay for certain players, we've been cheated, you know? That's Mike. Yeah, we've played. Played, maybe cheated. Yeah, that's true. It's a difficult one. That's true.

48:56And that's, I think, that's the problem. And I think that recruitment is the biggest thing whatever you do in your life. even bringing the good football player coaching staff, medical and I think they should be careful what kind of people they're bringing in certain places and to be in United you have to be one of the best in the market and you have to invest in that maybe even more than in the players because those players who are going to do the strategic work who are going to recruit the people you have to invest in them and I think we didn't do that well. That's my opinion. It's difficult to be, I think, in United now and even to be the football player, to be the owner, whatever you do is difficult.

49:48So if you want to change the club, I think the club has to bring the characters. If you don't have a character in the club, it's difficult to go through this situation. If you're bringing the people that are going to be just nice, smiling and saying things that you want to hear, I don't think that's the way forward. I think you need people that are going to take responsibility and be strong enough to say the things they see and even with the consequences. Because, yeah, that's what I think. Vida, do you think anything else? Why guys didn't ask me that I was two times Premier League player of the year?

50:29Come on, come on. How did you become two times Premier League Player of the Year, Nemanja? What is the question? How did I become? Were you two times Premier League Player of the Year? You weren't Premier League Player of the Year. You didn't win the Player of the Year for the Premier League. Two times Premier League Player of the Year. You were in the team. Premier League Player of the Year. Do you mean PFA or Premier League? Do you have the Wikipedia? Yes. Go to Wikipedia. I thought you were doing your research man I thought you were a serious pundit But what is the Premier League player of the year?

51:07Do you know how many players they won that? Just five players two times Thierry Henry, Cristiano Ronaldo, De Bruyne and Mo Salah and myself The research team is terrible here Guys You see he's blaming, this is not leadership This is not leadership Blaming his staff The research department needs improving enormously winners, here we go here we go oh Vidic you won it in 08-9 and 2010-11 what's the Premier League Player of the Year? you don't need to worry about it Gary I never won that one that's why you don't like it Emanja you're in my Manchester United all time 11, you know that don't you? no See, you don't even know that Yeah, well done guys You see?

52:01Yeah, you and Rio Now you have evidence You know? Why you put me in the best 11? Say that to Kyrgyz Jamie You don't like him, dear? No, I think he's good I think he's good, obviously No, just tell us you don't like him But not good enough That's a good place to finish

52:30If you're a custodial supervisor at a local high school, you know that cleanliness is key and that the best place to get cleaning supplies is from Grainger. Grainger helps you stay fully stocked on the products you trust, from paper towels and disinfectants to floor scrubbers. Plus, you can rely on Grainger for easy reordering so you never run out of what you need. Call 1-800-GRAINGER, click grainger.com, or just stop by. Grainger for the ones who get it done.