Four Man Utd players given 'special treatment' when club's infamous hierarchy was leaked

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Manchester United's notorious hierarchy boasted one of the most fearsome reputations the Premier League has ever witnessed. Sir Alex Ferguson commanded the club for nearly three decades, and his iron-fisted approach to management was legendary.

Upset Fergie and you might find yourself permanently benched. The results spoke volumes, with an incredible 38 major trophies secured under his leadership.

Yet Dimitar Berbatov has revealed that standards weren't applied equally behind the scenes at Old Trafford. The Bulgarian striker has previously shared that four United stars enjoyed "special treatment" from the Scot, something every player in the changing room could see.

Gary Neville , Paul Scholes , Ryan Giggs and Cristiano Ronaldo were all singled out by the former United forward as players Ferguson trusted implicitly to deliver when it mattered most.

Speaking to the Mirror in 2022, Berbatov said: "The hierarchy in football, it's always there with the players. It doesn't matter when anyone tells you. When you are a star in a football team and you deserve to be one, of course, from time to time you will have special treatment from the manager.

"I remember Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes and Gary Neville when we used to train, they trained a bit differently so they could save themselves for the games, and there is nothing wrong with that. This is normal in football.

"So it was the same with Cristiano Ronaldo, and in the end, we saw the results."

Despite this favouritism being apparent to the rest of the squad, Berbatov maintained that it never created any divisions. He added: "When you are a great football player sometimes the manager is going to give you more special attention. As long as you help the team win the game, this is normal in football.

"Sir Alex was very good at making a point to speak to everyone individually, so you didn't feel left out. Even if you didn't play he would know how to speak with you."

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The special attention these four legends received clearly delivered remarkable results, as they collectively secured 88 major trophies during Ferguson's reign at United. Neville dedicated his entire playing career to Old Trafford and earned his place in the Premier League Hall of Fame.

Apart from two brief outings for his son's side, Royton Town, in 2018, Scholes remained loyal to United throughout his career and frequently features in discussions about the Premier League's greatest ever midfielder. Giggs devoted his entire playing days to Manchester and claimed more Premier League titles than any other player in the competition's history.

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