Sir Alex Ferguson: 'My strict approach may have cost Manchester United titles'

Former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has admitted that his strict approach to management may have cost the club Premier League titles.

The Scotsman, who retired in 2013, had a prolific 27 years in charge at Old Trafford having guided the club to 13 league titles.

During his reign, the 73-year-old locked horns with a number of players, including David Beckham, Jaap Stam and Roy Keane, and Ferguson has now admitted that the club may have won more silverware had he taken a different approach.

In his new book Leading, Ferguson said: "People will give a manager plenty of opportunities to crack the whip so it's best to pick and choose your moments.

"You don't have to dish out a punishment very often before everyone gets the message. I place discipline above all else and it might have cost us several titles, but if I had to repeat things I'd do it precisely the same because discipline has to come before anything else."

Ferguson's latest book will be released on September 22.