Paul Scholes says Class of 92 should have greater role at Manchester United



Jamie Jackson - The Guardian

Wed 23 Jan 2019 22.30

Paul Scholes believes it is “strange” that only Nicky Butt of the Class of 92 works at Manchester United, the former midfielder stating that Sir Alex Ferguson’s wish was for them all to have roles.

Scholes was referring to himself, Ryan Giggs, David Beckham and Gary and Phil Neville together with Butt, who is the head of academy at United. Scholes went as far as to say that he had been left feeling unwelcome at United. The six own 60% of Salford City, following the announcement on Wednesday that Beckham has bought a 10% stake.

Although Giggs was United’s interim manager and then Louis van Gaal’s No 2, and Scholes has coached there, the 44-year-old pointed to the way in which Ferguson’s vision has not been fulfilled. The Scot retired as manager in May 2013 and Scholes stopped playing at the same time.

“It is a little bit strange,” Scholes said. “I think it was always the [former] manager’s idea that he would have us all involved in some capacity. He went at the same time, we retired together. In an ideal world he would have liked that but it didn’t happen for a year or so and people got other interests.

“Salford obviously took a big chunk of that, people went into different stuff. Gary went into management [at Valencia], Ryan is now at Wales. The manager always wanted something similar to a Bayern Munich or an Ajax where there are always ex-players there involved in the club, but it just has not happened.”

Scholes hinted that Ed Woodward replacing David Gill as the head executive was a factor. He said: “A lot changed at the club, obviously David Gill [went] as well. It could have been different, it couldn’t have been – I just don’t know.”

Scholes admits that not being actively involved in football has left a void. “Saturday afternoon is the hardest thing,” he said. “I can go out and watch games but I’m constantly on my phone looking at results, what score is this, what score is that.

“You have no real involvement but you’re obsessed with it. I want that feeling back again of working towards something through the week, working towards the end game on a Saturday through to the end of the season.”

As a pundit Scholes was critical of José Mourinho before the Portuguese’s sacking in mid-December. Ole Gunnar Solskjær, the caretaker manager, has won his opening seven games.

Scholes, asked whether it was too early to judge the former United striker after the leaden football of his predecessor, was scathing about Mourinho’s mode of play, branding it “shite”.

He is happier with Solskjær’s approach. “Since Ole has come back you feel like you’ve got your club back. You don’t ever feel like you’ve lost it, I suppose, but it just feels like you’ve got someone there who knows Man United, he’s been a player, you look at Ole and he’s a United man.

“I know he’s had jobs at other clubs but he’s a United person. You’d almost feel welcome there again.”

Scholes has been linked with the managerial vacancy at Oldham Athletic. He said he was unsure whether being a Salford shareholder would prove a problem were he offered the job.

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