The decision by European Ryder Cup Paul McGinley to bring Manchester United legend Sir. Alex Ferguson into the team room proved to be a wise decision with even those members of the side not ‘Man U’ fans suitable impressed.

One of those delighted to listen to Ferguson was fervent Manchester United fan Rory McIlroy.

Rory McIlroy delighted to listen to Sir Alex Ferguson speak to the European Team (Photo – Fran Caffrey/www.golffile.ie)

“For me, being a Manchester United fan, it was the highlight of the week so far,” added the Open champion, who paraded the Claret Jug at Old Trafford earlier this season,” said McIlroy.

“I was just sitting there and looking up at him and I didn’t take my eyes off him. I was sort of in this trance just listening to everything that he was saying and I’m sort of thinking, this is all the stuff that he’s probably said to Manchester United teams over the years.

“He told us a couple of stories just of past experiences in some big games and some of the players that he managed and it was a great evening. It was a really cool thing to be a part of.”

McIlroy admitted the non-Manchester United fans in the room also made their presence felt, with team-mate Sergio Garcia adding: “Obviously I am a Real Madrid fan and probably not his (Ferguson’s) biggest fan in the world, but I think when you have the possibility of listening to somebody that has been up there in sports and been able to perform at a really high level for that long, it’s always interesting to kind of pick his brain and see what things he’s gone through.

“It was really, really interesting, and I’m actually glad that I got to… I think we all did, got to know him a little bit better and listen to him a little bit.”

Scotland Celtic fan Stephen Gallacher revealed he had received a good luck message from former Parkhead boss Martin O’Neill, but was also impressed by Ferguson.

“I thought he was brilliant,” Gallacher said. “He spoke for half an hour and then we sort of asked him some questions and he was very candid and very open.

“There’s bits that I definitely would take away from it, not just as a team aspect, but for progression going forward.

“I kind of knew he was (a confident person) anyway, but to hear him talking you can see why the players respected him so much. You can see his sort of passion for the game and how much he loves football and how much he loves the strategy and the game.

“He misses it a bit he said, but you know, an absolute legend in my eyes.”