Billionaire who sits next to Sir Alex Ferguson at Man Utd lifts lid on 'criticisms' of team

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Sir Alex Ferguson , the legendary former Manchester United manager, may have retired 13 years ago but it seems he's far from relaxed when watching his old team play. With the recent sacking of Ruben Amorim after just 14 months and United only three points off the top four as the Premier League takes a break for the FA Cup third round, it's a tense time for fans.

The iconic Scotsman, a regular fixture at United matches, is likely feeling the frustration too. Known for his towering presence, Sir Alex is often caught on camera by broadcasters and photographers in the crowd.

In 2015, Sir Alex co-authored a book titled 'Leading' with Welsh billionaire Sir Michael Moritz, sparking a lasting friendship. Cardiff-born Sir Michael, known for his early investments in Google , Apple, PayPal and LinkedIn, is one of the most successful businessmen alive today.

Sir Michael rarely gives interviews but he recently sat down with The Times to discuss various topics, including what it's like to watch a match alongside Sir Alex.

The duo are regular visitors to Old Trafford and Sir Michael reveals his fellow knight is often critical of the current squad. He's likened to a backseat driver who constantly criticises the person actually driving.

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Both Sir Michael and Sir Alex have enjoyed remarkable success in their respective careers, maintaining excellence over many years. Moritz has consistently praised the United legend.

In an interview with The Standard 11 years ago, Sir Michael remarked: "There's only one Apple, one Google, one Microsoft, only one Alex Ferguson. Leaders are very rare. Without disparaging anyone, it's quite easy to hire good and capable managers.

"It's extremely rare to find that leader, particularly a leader who doesn't just excel for a brief period of time but can impress over decades."

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United icon Roy Keane shocked the Sky Sports studio this week when he described Sir Alex as a "bad smell" following reports the former manager had met with chief executive Omar Berrada and director of football Jason Wilcox after Amorim's dismissal earlier this week.

Interim manager Darren Fletcher, who played under Sir Alex during the club's golden period, disclosed he'd sought the Scotsman's approval before taking the position.

Discussing Sir Alex's continued presence at the club, Keane stated: "Who is making the decisions at United, you have still got Ferguson and David Gill hanging around like a bad smell.