I was never a nasty player, insists Scholes

PAUL SCHOLES has rejected the theory there was any malice behind his infamous tackling technique.

The recently-retired Manchester United midfielder is widely acknowledged to be one of the best players of his generation.

Zinedine Zidane, Xavi and Edgar Davids are among those who have claimed Scholes was the English player they would have most liked to star alongside.

However, along with the huge talent that propelled him to 10 Premier League titles and two Champions League triumphs came occasional haphazard challenges that bordered on the reckless.

Although overall, he was hugely complimentary, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger claimed Scholes had a “dark side”.

And following the final red card of his career, for a thigh-high challenge on Pablo Zabaleta in United’s FA Cup semi-final defeat to Manchester City at Wembley in April, even Alex Ferguson admitted “the red mist sometimes descends” on the 36-year-old.

Yet Scholes, whose 90 yellow cards make him the third most booked player in Premier League history, feels his reputation is unwarranted. “I have just been unlucky,” he said. “I never had red mist against anybody.

“The one against Zabaleta, I didn’t do on purpose. It was just bad timing. I would never intentionally try to hurt somebody. Nobody has ever had to go off following one of my tackles and nobody has broken their leg.

“I have never been nasty.”

Scholes’ opponents no longer have to worry, either about the midfielder’s tackling or his remarkable passing ability.

As Ferguson noted, it was typical that Scholes’ retirement should be announced when he had disappeared on holiday, with the minimum of fuss, in the wake of United’s Champions League final defeat to Barcelona.

He has now returned to explain his reasons, pointing out that it was his body, rather than frustration at being used so sparingly, that led to his decision.

“I knew it was the right time to happen,” he said.

“You can’t go on forever. It’s all done now and I am looking towards the future.

“There wasn’t one moment in particular. There were a few games later in the season where I didn’t feel great, and in training as well. In general it was the way I felt.’’

Meanwhile Blackburn have stepped aside to allow Phil Jones to “follow his dream” of joining Manchester United.

Although Rovers have claimed Jones’ switch to Old Trafford could eventually break their transfer record, United have not gone beyond the initial £16.5million offer that triggered a buy-out clause in the teenager’s contract last week.

Even as Blackburn owners Venky’s were refusing to sanction the deal when it was first put together last Wednesday and were fielding renewed interest from Liverpool over the weekend, Ferguson was secure in the knowledge Jones was not interested in going anywhere else.

So, once Jones’ contribution to England’s draw with Spain in their opening European U21 Championship group game was out of the way on Sunday night, further contact with Blackburn was made to tell the club any attempt at prolonging the transfer was futile.

Jones will formally sign a five-year contract once he returns from Denmark.

“Much as we would love him to stay on with us — and we made all efforts to convince him to stay — Phil has to finally follow his heart,” read a statement on behalf of the Rovers’ owners, directors and manager, released on the club’s website.

Blackburn boss Steve Kean confirmed those efforts included offering to make Jones the highest-paid player in the club’s history.

“The offer we made was staggering for a 19-year-old, but it wasn’t the money,” Kean said.

“Phil wants to play Champions League football now and we’re not at that level.

“I’m sure we will be in the coming years, and we gave it a real good try and made him a fantastic offer, but I understand why he wants to go now. He goes with our blessing and it’s an opportunity for us to invest in other young players across other areas of the pitch.

“We were hoping he was going to be captain of our club and captain of England, he’s a fantastic prospect and I’m sure he’ll be an England regular very soon.”

Meanwhile, one of Ferguson’s more bizarre recent captures, Bebe, is in talks with Turkish club Besiktas about a loan move.

Ferguson broke the habit of a lifetime buy snapping Bebe up despite never actually seeing him play.

The transfer has not really worked out, with the 20-year-old making only seven appearances, scoring two goals.