Sir Alex Ferguson and Paul Scholes shared a special relationship at Manchester United.
So much so that Rio Ferdinand claimed Ferguson never shouted at Scholes as the legendary midfielder was a favourite of his.
In fairness, Paul Scholes certainly did not give the Scotsman many reasons to complain as he was consistently brilliant for more than a decade at Old Trafford.
However, Sir Alex Ferguson is famous for his “hairdryer treatment” and has a reputation for never taking any prisoners.
But on and off the pitch, Paul Scholes always came across as an understated character who would solely place on all things Manchester United.
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Sir Alex Ferguson told Paul Scholes he would sell him from Man United
Scholes was one of Sir Alex Ferguson’s most trusted players, who he played across multiple positions — from attacking midfield to as a number eight and even deeper at times.
Danny Welbeck revealed Paul Scholes was incredibly smart and was able to boss proceedings for United well into the latter years of his career as well.
Wayne Rooney lauded Scholes as his best-ever teammate alongside Cristiano Ronaldo — which speaks volumes of the player he was.
However, Paul Scholes told The Robbie Fowler Podcast that after losing the ball by doing a needless flick that led to Newcastle’s fourth goal in an eventual 4-3 win against Manchester United, Sir Alex Ferguson was irate at him to the point of wishing to sell him: “I remember one at Newcastle, when Newcastle were a really good team. He left me out, we were 3-0 down and he brought me on with 20 minutes to maybe, 3-0 down.”
“We got it back to 3-2, I’m not saying it was anything to do with me, made two chances, made two goals, but nothing to do with me. Anyway, got it back to 3-2, we were flying, creating chances. I tried a back flick in the middle of the pitch on the halfway line, they broke away and I think [Alan] Shearer scored, that made it 4-2.”
“We got it back to 4-3 and then in the dressing room. I’m walking in thinking I made a difference in that game, I did okay. I had a couple of chances where I should have scored, but he went ballistic at me. ‘You’ll never play for this club again’ and all that type of stuff because I made that mistake on the halfway line.”
Scholes added: “I was never, ever, one to answer back. People like [Ryan] Giggsy always answered back. Even Becks [David Beckham] would say something but, I don’t know why,. I just kept saying that to him, no matter what he said. I was thinking, ‘What am I doing? I’ve never said a word in my life, was frightened to the death of the man!’ [Ferguson was saying] ‘you’ll never play for this club again!’”
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Ferguson said “sorry” to Paul Scholes
At the time, Paul Scholes would understandably have been afraid that his time at his boyhood club was over and done with.
But Sir Alex Ferguson realised he had gone over the top and apologised to Scholes soon after.
Paul Scholes revealed: “He said ‘I’m sorry, I realised you did make a difference in the game, what happened after the game was an overreaction. I’m sorry, we’ll just get on with it’. That was the quality of the manager. If he thought he’d made a mistake he’d quickly rectify it.”
