Scholes pays tribute on Ferguson anniversary

Sports / Feature and Column

Scholes pays tribute on Ferguson anniversary

(Reuters)
Updated: 2006-11-04 16:04

MANCHESTER, England, Nov 3 - Paul Scholes well remembers his first
meeting with Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson.

Manchester United's Paul Scholes (R) is challenged by FC Copenhagen's
goalkeeper Jesper Christiansen during their Champions League Group F
soccer match at the Parken Stadium in Copenhagen November 1, 2006.
[Reuters]
The future England midfielder was a 14-year-old schoolboy and terrified
of the man who on Monday celebrates 20 years in charge at Old Trafford.

"I was frightened to death actually - and I still am," Scholes said in a
rare interview at United's Carrington training ground on Friday.

"When you are a kid you hear about the fiery side of him and when you
meet him that's all you think about.

"But I was a young lad and he was always talking to you and encouraging
you, and as a young player that is a great thing to have."

Scholes was one of several young players given their head in the United
first team in 1994.

Television pundit and ex-player Alan Hansen famously declared "You win
nothing with kids" -- but Scholes, David Beckham, Gary and Phil Neville
and Nicky Butt -- and Ryan Giggs who was not much older -- proved him
wrong.

Together they made up the backbone of a team that won the Champions
League as part of a treble in 1999, during a spell that also brought the
Premier League title almost every season.

"He was one of the first managers to give young players a real big
chance," said Scholes.

"He is trying to do it again now. He has to. People get older and people
leave the club. You have to try and bring young players in. There is
no-one better at doing that than our manager."

FEEL WANTED

"With him the players come first. He never slags anyone off publicly,"
said Scholes. "If he has something to say he does it in the dressing room
and it never leaves there. That isn't always the case with managers these
days.

"He sticks up for us to the hilt, It makes us feel wanted and that is
important to us."

The midfielder admitted to the odd fall out, most notably when he refused
to play against Arsenal in the League Cup in 2002, but the damage was
repairable.

"If you apologise, go and see him and talk to him there is always room to
forgive," he said.

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