AS Alex Ferguson nears the end of his revered and feared Manchester United reign, he wants rival managers to believe he has mellowed.

Long gone, he claims, is the controlling and obsessive persona that helped him become English football's most successful manager, and also earned him the nickname 'Hairdryer'.

'At 66, I can't be involved in everything and I've learned to let the excellent staff here get on with it,' he told a magazine produced for England's 92 league managers ahead of the new season, when United aim to defend their English and European titles.

'There's no question that obsession can be a handicap, and is also dangerous for your health.

'It got to that point for me about 10 years ago. I was involved in everything at the club - the academy, the youth teams, all the scouting. It was obsession and it was draining me.'

So while Ferguson still enters the club's training ground at dawn, he's finding more time for his horse-racing interest in the evenings.

'I've taken up various interests so that when I drive away from the training ground in the afternoon I won't obsess over what is happening behind me,' he said.

But to think that Ferguson has lost his competitive edge would be a costly error as he embarks on his penultimate campaign, striving for more medals to cherish in his retirement.

His resolve was tested to the extreme during a turbulent off-season during which Cristiano Ronaldo commanded the headlines for two months by pleading to join Spanish giants Real Madrid.

CONTRACT

Knowing Ronaldo has four years remaining on his United contract, Ferguson didn't become embroiled in the attention-grabbing tactics, apart from an unsuccessful complaint to Fifa over Madrid's pursuit.

Instead, he maintained a steely silence for more than a month while he holidayed in southern France.

Even for a world-record transfer fee, Ferguson wasn't prepared to release the player who contributed 42 goals to United's triumphant Premier League and Champions League campaign last season.

And as usual, Ferguson emerged victorious, extracting a pledge of loyalty from Ronaldo and glowing adulation for his 'second father'.

'He has been one of the most important people in my playing career, not only because of what I've learnt, and continue to learn from him in sporting terms, but also in human ones as well,' said Ronaldo, whose father died three years ago.

'I love the passion he has for football. If it were humanly possible I would like to have him always by my side.'

If that still doesn't happen, Ferguson is always ready for upheaval.

'Managing change is the most difficult thing, in industry and sport,' Ferguson said. 'You have to think about tomorrow, not yesterday. To maintain the level of success that this club expects, change is essential.

'You can't have a team grow old without being ready to make changes. There's a risk you'll be caught unawares, make panic buys and change too suddenly.'

But despite 22 major trophies in 22 seasons at Old Trafford, Ferguson feels under pressure to deliver more glory.

'I have to maintain success no matter who we're playing, because the expectations are always very high,' he said.

- AP.

'HAIRDRYER' VICTIMS