A tongue-lashing from Alex Ferguson provided the reality check needed for Michael Appleton to rebuild his career at Oxford.
Appleton was a youth player under Ferguson at Manchester United and is still able to lean on his former boss for advice.
It appears to be paying dividends as Oxford play at Middlesbrough in the FA Cup fifth round on Saturday (kick off 3.0pm), having won promotion to League One under Appleton.
After only lasting 65 days at Blackpool and getting sacked by Blackburn after 67, Appleton went to see Ferguson, the English game's most successful manager, for some sage advice, which was duly distributed.
"I remember going to see him about two weeks after losing my job at Blackburn," Appleton said.
"It was two weeks before the end of the season. I went to see him at Carrington just before he retired (in May 2013).
"I went thinking he would give some good advice. But for the first half an hour I got the biggest rollicking ever. I'd not seen him for ages, but for the first half an hour I never said a word.
"It was needed. It's the best thing that happened to me."
Ferguson rebuked Appleton for his naivety in taking jobs at struggling clubs, given the troubles at Blackpool and Blackburn, telling him he needed to do his due diligence.
"In the past I would have taken jobs because it was an opportunity, the size of the club, where it had been," Appleton added.
"I was probably a bit inexperienced as a manager, going in thinking 'oh yes, I can sort this lot out'.
"But the reality is you are only as good as the players and the people you're working with."
As a result of Fergie’s advice Appleton did his homework before accepting the Oxford job in July 2014.
He is making an impression. Eight higher division teams have been beaten by United under Appleton, including Newcastle in the FA Cup fourth round.
Beat Boro and Oxford, in the last 16 for the first time since 1993-94, will be in the quarter-finals for the first time in 53 years.
We had a brief chat before the game and he was telling me how well I was doing at the time. So I must have being doing all right - Michael Appleton
And Appleton revealed he has rejected approaches to leave the Kassam Stadium.
"I was thinking if I ever leave Oxford it would have to be the right job at the right time," Appleton said.
"I would need to do my due diligence. There have been opportunities that have come up over the last 12, 18 months.
"I know more than anyone the grass is not always greener. From that point of view, it would take a very good offer and very, very good club to take me away from Oxford."
Ferguson has kept a keen eye on Appleton's progress.
Appleton added: "I've not spoken to him for a few months. I saw him at a game, a United game a few months back.
"We had a brief chat before the game and he was telling me how well I was doing at the time. So I must have being doing all right. You know he's at the end of the phone if you ever need him."
