Sir Alex Ferguson: How whiskey and a poker face helped Aberdeen secure its biggest win

Aberdeen captain Willie Miller and renowned Scottish football writer Hugh MacDonald took up the story in the documentary.

“He’ll think you’re just here to enjoy the moment,” Miller said of what Ferguson said about Di Stefano.

“And then go into your dressing room and tell your players that these opponents just think you’re here to make up the numbers.

“He played Real Madrid in a cup final, but he still told Stein, ‘What are you going to do?'”

What the ploy did was lull Di Stefano and Real into a false sense of security while troubling the Dons players.

Ferguson’s Aberdeen flew off the blocks in Gothenburg.

Eric Black put them ahead after seven minutes before Juanito’s penalty leveled proceedings.

The game went into extra time and, with penalties looming, John Hewitt headed in the 112th minute Aberdeen winner.

Former Brighton & Hove Albion, Wolverhampton Wanderers and Aberdeen manager Mark McGhee spoke of the famous goal – and he also spoke revealing in the BBC Sport documentary how Ferguson played a trick in both dressing rooms.

Aberdeen’s 1983 side, like the Class of ’92 Ferguson would eventually manage at Manchester, put youth at the forefront and McGhee says: “We were gullible in the sense that we believed what he said to us.”

McGhee’s unwavering faith in his manager can be seen in how Ferguson supports his players, even before the match starts.

Immediately after dinner at Di Stefano, Stein caught up with Ferguson to see if his plan had been swallowed by his opposite number.

“Stein asked the boss, ‘How is that?’ Kennedy said. “And the boss said, ‘1-0’.”