Michael Owen says ex-boss Fergie has right to criticise players in 'own book'

Former England and Manchester United player Michael Owen has reportedly defended his former boss Sir Alex Ferguson by insisting that the Scot has every right to criticise former players in his autobiography.

Ferguson has been widely slammed after picking out faults of a number of former players in his new autobiography - including the likes of Mark Bosnich, David Beckham and Roy Keane, with Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers saying that the former Old Trafford boss is out of order.

However, Metro.co.uk reports Owen insisted that Ferguson has a right to say what he thinks, adding that he believes every manager and player has got a right to express their opinions in their own books.

Owen further said that a number of managers have done the same thing before, adding that the entire uproar is ironic as the whole world was waiting with bated breath for Ferguson's book to hit the shelves as everyone wanted to know what he had been through.

Owen, who played under Ferguson for two years at United, having been signed from Newcastle United on a free transfer, further said that it is Ferguson's prerogative to say what he thinks.

The row of Ferguson's comments erupted this week, with the Scot's book officially going on sale, the report added.