'He battered me' - Wayne Rooney opens up on Sir Alex Ferguson's infamous 'hairdryer treatment' at Man Utd & one particularly heated exchange with legendary ex-boss that inspired hat-trick

Ferguson was known for his fiery temper during his legendary time in charge of United, with the Scot having blown up at many of the big names that played under him. His outbursts were named the 'hairdryer treatment' and former Red Devils striker Rooney admitted that he was often on the receiving end of it.

The incident that Rooney remembers most was in the Premier League clash against Portsmouth in November 2009. Rooney opened the scoring with a penalty before the hosts. who were bottom of the table, pulled level through a spot-kick of their own as the teams went in level at half-time. When Ferguson turned his anger towards Rooney, the ex-England star retaliated and was told off by the manager. He then went on to score a second goal three minutes into the second half and a third six minutes later as United won 4-1.

He told BBC Sport: "I got it a lot, yeah. When he went of course he was scary and intimidating. At times deserved, at times not deserved. But I think he knew the right times to do it and he knew the effect which it would have which normally for me was a positive effect on the pitch.

"There was a game that always sticks out. It was Portsmouth away, we were winning 1-0, I scored in the first half and he came in and he battered me. He just went at me and I felt it wasn't deserved and I went back at him, and probably went back a bit too far. It was a bit disrespectful and he spoke to me after that and made it clear that I can't speak to him like that. And then I went out and scored another two, so I scored a hat-trick in the game.

"It was always after the game, it was on the bus - this is where he was brilliant - he'd be sat on the and he'd walk past you and get a tea or a coffee and when he walks back past you he'd give you a little slap on the head and that was his way of saying it's forgot about."

Since being sacked from his role as Plymouth manager, Rooney is expected to return to coaching in the near future, with Salford City said to be a possible destination.