HE is still the gaffer of Wimbledon.

Andy Murray has marched into the last eight of the championships for the seventh successive year under the watchful eye of Sir Alex Ferguson and immediately received advice from the former Manchester United boss about his way forward.

Murray cut down the giant Kevin Anderson in three sets and now faces Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria in the last eight in his bid to regain the title he won so sensationally last year.

He revealed he had enjoyed a chat with Fergie after a match of two halves - the first taking place in the open air, the second half under the roof.

The boy from Govan watched the boy from Dunblane at Wimbledon last year as he came back from two sets down to beat Fernando Verdasco of Spain.

The pair have now formed a friendship and exchange texts throughout the year.

"I chatted to him for a few minutes after the match," said Murray. "We talked about my match today, spoke about football, World Cup a little bit. Then he just said a few things, what he's observed when he's been watching me, not necessarily about technical or tactical things, but more sort of mental things, how you respond to tough or tight situations."

The Wimbledon champion added: "Obviously you're going to listen to someone like him. He's witnessed a lot of big, tight sporting occasions. He obviously knows his stuff."

Murray brushed off suggestions that he could appoint Fergie as a consultant "He's someone I would obviously talk to if something came up that I felt I could benefit from speaking to him about something. But I wouldn't see myself employing him or offering him a job within my team," he said.

Murray, though, is not in desperate need of advice at Wimbledon 2014. He has played three matches and not lost a set. "I feel good," said the 27-year-old who had back surgery in September.

"I haven't played too many long matches. Today was the longest I played and was about two-and a-half hours. I've been moving well and mentally I haven't had to use loads of energy yet. But I'm aware that's going to come."

Dimitrov will be a challenge. At 23, the player once labelled Baby Fed is coming of age, winning three titles this year.

"I think maybe right at the beginning of his career it was hard for him because everyone was comparing him to Federer," said Murray." That's impossible to live up to what Roger's achieved. You know, maybe no one again will ever win that many slams. I know Rafa's got a shot, but it's going to take a while I think before someone wins 18, 19 majors again. So that could have been tough for him at the beginning of his career.

"He's starting to come into his prime. He's won a lot of matches this year. He's a tough player and he will be a hard match for me."

THE Scot believes Dimitrov has grown up and said: "He's a more mature player now. He makes better decisions on the court.

"Technically, he hasn't made many changes to his game. But he's playing higher-percentage tennis, making better decisions. That adds up to winning many more matches. He can obviously hit a lot of different shots. He has a lot of variety in his game. Sometimes it takes time to know how to use that properly. He's starting to do that now."

Dimitrov, who has Maria Sharapova as his girlfriend, represents a step-up for Murray as the Bulgarian is ranked 13th in the world.

"He won Queen's a couple weeks ago and he likes the grass courts. It's a big opportunity for him," said Murray.

It will be a challenge but Murray, the gaffer of Wimbledon, should manage it.