The ability to work hard is a talent. But if you don’t believe us, hear it from the man himself – Sir Alex Ferguson – as he addressed an audience at Salford City FC, a football club co-owned by Manchester United legends including Gary Neville, Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes.

We observe this ability to work hard in players so often in training. Some kids, despite not being the most ‘talented’, possess a relentless hunger to improve. They’re always on the move, continuously testing their limits and basically just non-stop. On the other hand, there are supremely gifted footballers who just don’t put in the effort to excel. Instead of capitalising on their talent, these players wait for things to fall in place for them rather than working to create better circumstances.

In the long run, it is the player who works harder that goes further. We see it in every profession. That’s not to say talent counts for nothing – it does. But without a solid work ethic and discipline, nothing of real value is achievable.

Unlike most other talents, we always tell our students that the talent of hard work lies within each one of us. All we have to do is tap into it.