Scholes: Ryan's wonder goal? He should've passed!
Paul Scholes recently returned to Old Trafford to help adidas launch a limited edition Ninety-Two trainer, participating in a Q&A with his former Class of ’92 team-mates David Beckham, Ryan Giggs, Nicky Butt and the Neville brothers. Here’s what the Ginger Genius said, including his thoughts on Giggsy's iconic winner at Arsenal in 1999...
Yeah it does, a lot of good memories. Obviously, you don’t get to go back in the dressing room when we come back to work here as pundits. We've had a look round, sitting in the places where we used to sit in the dressing room, and loads of great memories are coming back. We had loads of great times, winning trophies, producing some great performances, and some not-so-great performances, and sometimes you remember the not-so-great ones more than the ones you enjoyed the most, but that’s just the way it is. It is certainly a bit special being back, and looking back at all the different things we used to see when we were players – it brings back great memories for us all.
Class of '92 reunited
GalleryOur six club legends returned to Old Trafford for the first time since 2011 to launch the adidas Ninety-Two range.
There are two or three matches that stick out in my mind as good experiences, not bad ones. The first one is the Liverpool FA Cup game in 1999, when we got two goals in the last two or three minutes to win it. And then the Arsenal game in 2004 when they had to win or draw to go on a 50 match unbeaten streak – and we managed to stop that. The Barcelona Champions League semi-final game which was against such a great Barcelona team at Old Trafford and, of course, we went on to win the final after too.
"The dressing room brings back a lot of good memories. You don’t get to go back in there when we come back to work here as pundits."
It's got to be those ten days of winning the Treble and, to be honest, the full 1998/99 season as well. But if you’re talking particularly special times: the Tottenham league match, then the Newcastle FA Cup final, and Ryan’s goal in the FA Cup semi-final against Arsenal. That whole period was the highlight of the season – even though I’m not sure why he didn’t square it to me against Arsenal! That was definitely the highlight and obviously the lads going on to win the Champions League final in Barcelona. To watch that and to be a part of the squad was so special.
"Ryan’s goal in the FA Cup semi-final against Arsenal was special - even though I’m not sure why he didn’t square it to me!"
Later in the Q&A, there was a revealing insight when host Rachel Riley asked Giggs if he regretted taking his shirt off in the celebration that following his stunning semi-final winner against Arsenal.
“The only regret I do have is something that Scholesy didn’t do,” said Ryan. “I was watching it back six months ago and, when I’m taking my top off, you can see that Scholesy goes to take his off too.
“If he had done that then it would have got me out of jail!”
Scholesy, when asked if he regretted his decision to remain clothed amid the jubilation, simply said:
“No… I’d actually shaved my chest as well!”
Vlog: Launch of the Ninety-Two
#TBT to last week's adidas Ninety-Two launch at the Old Trafford Megastore...