Here's an exclusive Q&A session that MUTV had with Paul Scholes just before his testimonial game. He talks about being a Red Devil and looks back over his awesome Old Trafford career.
How much pressure was on you to deliver when you made your United debut against Port Vale in 1994?
It was brilliant to make my debut. It was something that you wanted to do when you were a young lad going through the 'A' and 'B' teams, as well as the Reserves, and I was lucky enough to get my chance, and on that night I managed to take it. There wasn't really much pressure because there were probably eight or nine of us in the team that day. I think Brian McClair was the only senior player who played so there was a little bit of pressure on all of us and we were probably all nervous, but coming in together like we did I don't think it was as bad as it could have been.
What was sweeter: winning your first title or beating Liverpool in the cup final?
I would probably say winning the league because it was my first one. It's also something that shows you are the best team in England, when you've managed to go through the year and you're top of the league. It was probably beyond my wildest dreams ever to play for a club like United so to go on and win trophies and win a title was amazing.
What do you recall of your goal against Inter Milan in the 1999 Champions League quarter-final and playing at the San Siro?
I'd only been on for maybe five or 10 minutes and I think I kicked it with my heel past the keeper. It was a great occasion and a great achievement to get through. They were an amazing team and they had Ronaldo too. They gave us a torrid time for 45 minutes, so to come through that was a great achievement really. It was great to play at the San Siro. It's just a massive stadium that's known all over the world and you only dream of going to places like that. To be lucky enough to play in it was great and to score as well was brilliant.
Would you say your volley at Aston Villa (league, 2006) was your best goal?
Yes it was probably my best and probably the most difficult because the ball went high up in the air, so it had to come down and I volleyed it. It was just sweeter (than the rest). I caught it perfectly. I didn’t try and absolutely smash it, but it went in quickly and it was just the perfect goal.
What about the one against Barcelona in the 2008 Champions League semis?
That was one I didn't catch quite cleanly. It seems to slice off my right foot and as soon as I hit it I felt it was in because the keeper seemed to go the other way and there was a massive gap there. It helped us get through to the Champions League final against Chelsea.
Fans love playing against Man City, but are Liverpool still our biggest rivals?
They are because of the championships they've won, the history of their club. I think they will be (our biggest rivals) for a while, but I think City will be pushing them close soon. They won the FA Cup last year so they'll be looking to kick on from there and spend more money, whether or not they'll have the history of Liverpool I’m not sure. As far as local rivals go then it's quite difficult to choose between them two for now.
Adapted from: ManUtd.com
I was impressed that Sir Alex Ferguson handed four players competitive debuts at Wembley and wanted to see how they reacted to a derby match when there's a trophy to be won. And they didn't disappoint.
The first half wasn't great. We started off well but soon started to lose the ball too frequently. There was no movement that could be sustained for too long. City did surprise by taking a 2 goal lead at the end of first 45 minutes. But come second half and we began to play more openly and confidently.
We were rewared soon as Smalling and Nani scored goals in quick succession to make it an exciting contest. United had now turned around a two-goal deficit and seized back the momentum from Manchester City and it looked we could hit the winner soon but that was not to be.
Everyone present at Wembly were now expecting to see a penalty shoot-out to see who lifts the Community Sheild but just then in the 94th minute Nani ran across the field and slotted home the winner to stun Man City.
The injury time winner reflected a perfect counter-attacking move as United defended a corner and then Nani was let free to score leaving Joe Hart gasping for breath.
It was great to watch David de Gea debut in his first game on English soil. He along with new signings Young and Jones would be particulary happy to have won their first honour with Manchester United.
Earlier this year, we had won a record-breaking 19 league titles and we coupled it yesterday with 19th Community Shield by beating our noisy neighbours.
And as Nani said, "beating City is always special!"
Paul Scholes has scored 102 goals for Manchester United but scoring the first goal of his testimonial game was a special moment for him.
Paul Scholes's testimonial match against the New York Cosmos was played in front of a sold-out Old Trafford on Friday.
The 36 year-old was captaining Man United and scored the first goal on 9 minutes when he smashed a 25-yard effort from the left side past former U.S. international goalkeeper Brad Friedel. Check out the video to watch Scholesey's screamer in his last game for the Red Devils.
The final score was just to confirm how Manchester United rolled to an emphatic 6-0 victory over the New York Cosmos. The Cosmos, who are trying to secure a Major League Soccer franchise, brought over a team of retired stars and players from their Under-23 team
The crowd enjoyed saluting their heroes and booing Patrick Vieira but the most affection was, rightly, reserved for the eponymous hero of the Paul Scholes testimonial. He got his goal, delivered some classic long-ranges passes that drew gasps from the audience and even lunged in for a couple of tackles and enjoyed a mock flare-up with old pal Butt.
Here are some snaps from Paul Scholes testimonial game.
Paul Scholes's testimonial match against the New York Cosmos was played in front of a sold-out Old Trafford on Friday.
The 36 year-old was captaining Man United and scored the first goal on 9 minutes when he smashed a 25-yard effort from the left side past former U.S. international goalkeeper Brad Friedel. Check out the video to watch Scholesey's screamer in his last game for the Red Devils.
The final score was just to confirm how Manchester United rolled to an emphatic 6-0 victory over the New York Cosmos. The Cosmos, who are trying to secure a Major League Soccer franchise, brought over a team of retired stars and players from their Under-23 team
The crowd enjoyed saluting their heroes and booing Patrick Vieira but the most affection was, rightly, reserved for the eponymous hero of the Paul Scholes testimonial. He got his goal, delivered some classic long-ranges passes that drew gasps from the audience and even lunged in for a couple of tackles and enjoyed a mock flare-up with old pal Butt.
Here are some snaps from Paul Scholes testimonial game.
Thank you Paul Scholes for all the amazing moments you given us! Hope to see you in the dugout soon!
Antonio Valencia has signed a new four-year deal which will keep the winger at Old Trafford until the end of the 2014/15 season.
The 25-year-old Ecuadorian joined the Reds from Wigan Athletic in the summer of 2009 and has made 69 appearances, scoring 10 goals. He has won one Barclays Premier League title and a Carling Cup winners’ medal.
Sir Alex Ferguson said: "Antonio has made a fantastic contribution since his arrival. His speed, crossing ability and versatility have been a big asset for us.
"He has a quiet, unassuming way of going about his business, which is underlined by great strength of character – as his recovery from such a bad injury last season proves."
Valencia said: "I am delighted to stay at United. Since my first day at Carrington, I have been happy here. I hope that I can continue to develop as a player.
"I am looking forward to making my contribution to helping this squad compete for more trophies."
Source: ManUtd.com
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