Former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson last week shocked the world of football by claiming he had only worked with 4 world class players during his 26 year time at Old Trafford.

The Scot named Eric Cantona, Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes and Cristiano Ronaldo as the quartet, sparking furious debate from United fans and the wider football-watching public alike. Peter Schmeichel, David Beckham, Roy Keane and Ruud van Nistelrooy among many others were touted for a place in the former manager’s category of world class, however, all of them failed to make the cut.

However, Sir Alex has since opened up further about his comments, explaining that it was the impact the four players he singled out had that puts those above the rest.

“We’ll that’s the area in which the press have not given it the proper publication, the proper reason for saying this,” Ferguson told American radio station SiriusXM FC .

“If you look at the time I was at for United for 27 years, I had some fantastic players, some great players. I never said those players were not great, they were fantastic.”

“But in the context in my opinion, it was a qualified opinion, that some players make a difference, and that’s what I judged.”

“Eric Cantona, when he came into the club in 1993 he made a difference. Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs played for 20 years in the Premier League, that made a difference to us.”

“And of course, Cristiano Ronaldo’s performances, he is a world-class player as everyone knows. Him and [Lionel] Messi are the two world-class players.”

[Quotes via the Mirror]