In a recent episode of the podcast Rio Ferdinand Presents, Premier League icon Andy Cole opened up about the grueling training sessions during his golden era at Manchester United from 1995 to 2001 under legendary manager Sir Alex Ferguson. Fans of the Red Devils might be stunned to learn about the unique "yellow jersey of shame" concept that added pressure on poor performers during training.

Cole, now 53, shared that the intensity of training at Manchester United was like no other, describing it as “mad.” He recalled how losing a training match had serious consequences—the defeated players would bear the humiliation of wearing the infamous yellow jersey, awarded to the least effective player. He stated, "Once the yellow jersey came out... the worst player had to wear it. You'd be stuck with it for a whole week!"

He fondly remembered his teammate Gary Pallister, who often found himself in the dreaded jersey, saying simply, “Pally.” This system created fierce competition, and players typically did everything in their power to avoid the yellow garment. The pressure to perform would motivate them, turning every training session into a high-stakes contest.

Rio Ferdinand, who joined Manchester United a year after Cole left, often inquired about life at the club during their England national team gatherings. He recalled Cole's intense stories, saying, "The way you used to talk about Man United used to half scare me... I thought, 'How's Man United? I can't go there.'"

The rigorous training methods created by Ferguson were instrumental in fostering a winning mentality among players, contributing to the club's legendary status and a trophy haul that included 13 Premier League titles and two UEFA Champions League trophies.

However, today’s Manchester United finds itself in stark contrast to those glory days. Currently sitting in a disappointing 13th place in the Premier League, the team is under the direction of new manager Ruben Amorim, who took charge in November after Erik ten Hag's dismissal. So far, Amorim has struggled to spark a turnaround, and fans are concerned about the possibility of the club registering its worst-ever finish in the English top flight.

Amid these challenges, co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe has outlined an ambitious 'Project 150' plan, aiming to lead Manchester United back to Premier League glory by the club's 150th anniversary in 2028. Nonetheless, this vision has met skepticism. Former player Nicky Butt commented, “That ain't going to happen... it's going to be a long way off.” He pointed out the competitive landscape of other clubs like Newcastle, Liverpool, Chelsea, and Arsenal, all of whom are expected to improve.

Manchester United’s next challenge lies ahead as they face third-place Nottingham Forest at the City Ground on Tuesday, a match that could heavily impact their season and ambitions of reversing the tide of their struggling form. Can they channel the fierce competitive spirit of the past to reclaim their glory? Fans everywhere will be watching closely, hoping for a turnaround that invokes memories of training legends like Andy Cole!