Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson laid the foundations for his club's latest Premier League title triumph by taking a more mellow approach, according to his assistant Mike Phelan.
Ferguson's remarkable run of success during his 27-year reign at Old Trafford has often been regarded as a tribute to the Scot's ferocious competitive streak.
Despite winning the Premier League 13 times and lifting the Champions League trophy twice, Phelan admits Ferguson's appetite for silverware remains unquenched.
But it is Ferguson's ability to adapt to the changing culture in football that most impresses former United midfielder Phelan.
While the 71-year-old's fiery temper fuelled United's initial success, his habit of giving players a verbal blast dubbed "the hairdryer" when unhappy with their performances has become a thing of the past.
Ferguson recognises that modern players, reflecting a change in society, are less likely to respond to harsh words, so he has adopted a more mellow approach.
"He's maintained the desire to win, you can never take that away from him, but what he has done over a period of time is he's mellowed," Phelan told BBC Radio Five Live's Sportweek on Sunday.
"He's passed on certain responsibilities to individual people, he lets you work, he lets you get on with the job, he expects honesty and trust from you and I think he gets that.
"His biggest strength is his leadership. He's put things in place over many many years and he's had that desire to win.
"And when you've got someone who's pushing and pushing and pushing it brings along a lot of people and if you're in that same frame of mind and you've got the same work ethic that he's got, then it can only be a benefit to everybody.
"He's matured like a good bottle of red wine. He's got better and better with age and he's still going strong."
While Ferguson's personality has moulded United into a successful force once again, his £24 million signing of Robin van Persie from Arsenal in pre-season was clearly the decisive moment in the title race.
After losing the title to Manchester City on the final day of last season, Ferguson targeted van Persie as the man to tip the balance of power back to Old Trafford.
The Dutch forward, who was also wanted by City, delivered in spectacular fashion.
Van Persie won only one FA Cup medal at Arsenal, but he has scored 24 league goals this season to help fire Ferguson's men to a 20th league crown.
And the 29-year-old admits the season has been a dream come true.
"I've waited a very long time for this. It's what every professional dreams might happen one day," he told The Sun on Sunday.
"That's why I sacrificed so much to come here. I chased a dream and I'm so happy the dream has now been fulfilled. I still can't believe it, it's just an incredible feeling.
"It is also a massive relief after all this time to be lucky enough to win a title in one of the hardest leagues in the world.
"My move to Manchester United was all about timing. We met each other at exactly the right time. They were so eager to win the Premier League title back.
"And I was so eager to win the title for the first time.
"Now I've won one big prize I'm even more eager to win it all."