Ferguson and Villas-Boas
Ferguson believes Villas-Boas should have been given more time. REUTERS

Both Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger have given their condolences to Andre Villas-Boas, as the former Chelsea manager deals with being sacked from his post at Stamford Bridge over the weekend.

Villas-Boas had claimed last week that Roman Abramovich supported him, but after the Blues lost to West Brom 1-0, it seemed the Portuguese tactician's numbers were up, and he was sacked by the owner the following morning.

And Ferguson, who has been at Manchester United for over 25 years now, said that he felt it wasn't right to give the manager so little time to prove himself.

"There was all the build-up in the media and obviously the results haven't been kind to him," he told Sky Sports. "But it is disappointing because he is a young manager.

"When you are young you need time and obviously in this industry you don't get a lot of time unfortunately, so it is sad in a way.

"I hope he does well because he has got the potential. His work at Porto can't be ignored and I hope he comes back into the game soon."

United have been particularly kind to Ferguson over the years, and have had their faith in the Scot paid off on many occasions, receiving many trophies and titles in return.

But it took Ferguson nearly three years to win his first trophy with United, in a testament that patience is definitely often a rare but necessary virtue in football.

Wenger, meanwhile, is often under pressure over his job at Arsenal, though after lasting 15 years in the post at the Emirates, the Frenchman has shown he can do a great deal with a tight budget.

And he believes that time should have been given to Villas-Boas to show what he could do at Chelsea.

"I feel sorry for Andre Villas-Boas, because I know him and I like him as a manager and a man," he said.

"It is sad every time a manager loses his job, because it is a job that demands full commitment. I think he did that.

"I'm sorry that he was not given enough time to do his job.

"Our job is difficult, because we face opinions every day and we need as well the strength to push our own opinion through.

"I am sure that Villas-Boas had the strength to do that. But when you are not given time, you have no chance."

Villas-Boas is believed to be fielding interest from Italian clubs as the 34 year old decides his next move.