Paul Scholes has scored dozens of crucial goals for Manchester United over the years but none of them has been quite as precious as the sublime strike that sent Sir Alex Ferguson’s squad into the Champions League final.
Scholes, along with Roy Keane, famously missed United’s triumph over Bayern Munich in the 1999 final through suspension and Ferguson admitted he was delighted to see one of his most loyal servants claim the opportunity to make up for lost time with a stunning long-range strike in Tuesday night’s 1-0 win over Barcelona at Old Trafford.
“It is great for Paul to be in the final,” Ferguson said after watching the midfielder unleash a 14th-minute shot that ensured an all-English final in Moscow next month.
“He is one of the great players, he came through the ranks at the club and I am so pleased for him,” he said.
“It was a fantastic goal. You can’t expect him to score 15 or 20 goals a season for you now like he did when was younger,” Ferguson said.
But when he gets one like that it makes up for the ones he can’t score because of his age. It was a marvellous moment for him,” the Scot said.
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