“Authoritarian, dictatorial and exceptional.”

Alex Ferguson may not always have been the most popular man in Eric Black’s household but there is no doubting he left a lasting impression.

As Fergie prepares for tonight’s Ewood Park clash chasing the club’s 20th title, Blackburn Rovers assistant boss Eric Black insists he has already proved himself to be the best the game has ever seen.

This is coming from a man who should know, having spent six years playing under Ferguson during Aberdeen’s glory years from 1981 – where they dominated Scottish football as well as lifting the European Cup Winners Cup.

Ferguson has gone on to guide Manchester United to Premier League domination and, at the age 0f 70, is showing no signs of stopp-ing his continual pursuit of glory “I first joined Aberdeen as a schoolboy at 14 during the easter holidays and even then he was at all the training sessions,” said Black. “He knew all the under 15s and 14s names, knew all the parents, came to all the sessions.

“He ensures you feel part of it, you feel special because the manager knows your name and is prepared to, not necessarily talk to you, but certainly talk at you.

“They are great attributes to develop at a club and develop an ethos that no one is bigger than the club and to make everyone feel as though they have a part to play in the process.”

From the day he signed professional forms at Aberdeen, Black was left in no doubt as to what was expected from him by Ferguson, consistent excellence.

Those high standards can never have been more evident than after Aberdeen’s Scottish Cup final win over Rangers in 1983, just a week after having lifted the European Cup Winners Cup.

“I just remember getting back into the changing room and we had decided it might be worth trying some champagne at this point,” Black said.

“But the door nearly came off its hinges as he came through and said that was unacceptable and that no Aberdeen side of his would ever be accepted to play like that and perform like that. He said there were only a couple who had passed the standard and who had won the cup.

“I just remember the celebration dinner with the wives and girlfriends was more like a wake. We watched the review of the game when we were having dinner.

“The next day he did get us into the room and give us an apology of some description but that was the standards he set. It wasn’t show. It was hurting him and he had to get it off his chest.

“Winning a cup was not enough it had to be the performance and level of performance.”

Black is yet to experience being on the winning side against his mentor, having joined Rovers just weeks after Steve Kean’s men’s stunning 3-2 triumph at Old Trafford.

He knows Rovers face anything but an easy task though completing the double over the champions, with Ferguson’s own high standards ensuring his current stars don’t ease up.

He said: “I was on the wrong side of it just about every day I was at Aberdeen. Whether it was warranted or not I got it. As a young player he was conscious of putting me under pressure.

“From day one I was put under pressure. Every day, I can’t remember there being too many pats on the back - in fact I can’t remember any - but that was the way he was and the way he operated. Looking back at it now it worked.

“You just either respond or you die and I saw a lot of people crumble. It is his way of getting a reaction out of you to see whether you can cope.

“If you can’t cope with that you are never going to be any use to him because that is the way he operates and the standards he sets.

“If you stay in the team you have passed but you never feel as though you have passed. You always have to maintain the level. Those things are engrained in you.”

Black is adamant Ferguson will go down history as the best in the business and, ahead of tonight’s meeting, had words of warning for those looking to dethrone United.

“It is alright being disciplined for three days but he does it every day of his life,” he said. “He constantly pushes for the next level and once he reaches Everest he looks for the next mountain. It is phenomenal man management.

“He can go on as long as he wants. I haven’t seen any signs of it dipping. You see him in interviews and the intensity is still there, the desire is still there. He is still desperate to win games.

“It is unbelievable energy to have the desire and discipline to get up and do it all again. We are not talking average standards, we are talking as high as I have ever experienced.

“I don’t even hesitate when I say he is the greatest ever manager. I have the utmost respect for them all. I had the opportunity to work with Jock Stein on a short term basis and he was like a god to me, I have read about Shankly, I have read about them all, but to do what he has done over the period he has he has to be the best ever.”