Manchester United great Sir Alex Ferguson clarifies 'four world-class players' comments

Sir Alex Ferguson has clarified comments he made last month, when he stated he had only coached four 'world-class' players during his near 27-year stint in the Old Trafford dugout.

The Manchester United great 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 and Ruud van Nistelrooy were particularly glaring omissions, with many other stars to have graced the Theatre of Dreams staking claims.

Fergie says 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."