THE GINGER PRINCE

Old Trafford: Manchester United v Barcelona:
Champions League Semi Final Second Leg:
Tuesday 29th May 2008:

Sir Alex Ferguson was hardly a man noted for his sentimental nature. So when he vehemently declared to the world's media that if Manchester United qualified for the Champion's League Final, 'Paul Scholes definitely played', journalists and supporters were shocked.

But thirty-three year old Scholes, a born and bred Mancunian who fought Ferguson's corner, tooth and nail for eighteen years was always a sure-fire bet to make Moscow.

For despite all that glistened at Old Trafford, the glamour of Ronaldo and Rooney, this fiery, ginger haired kid from Middleton who never looked for a fight on a football pitch but consistently found one was deemed invaluable to the Govan legend.

Able to see a pass others could only dream of, sublime technique with a deadly eye for goal from near and far, Arguably the finest English player in a generation. But a streetwise temper that when roused in the heat of battle saw many a referee's card flashed at times proved his undoing.

No more so than Turin back in 1999.

Against Juventus a second booking cost Scholes a place in Manchester United's epic Champion's League Final victory in Barcelona. Ironically the Catalans stood again between United's 'Ginger Prince' and a place at Europe's top table. After a drab 0-0 in the Nou Comp, battle resumed at a raging Old Trafford with a full house demanding United showed their true colours.

But it it was Barca who excelled early, no more so than the genius of Lionel Messi who led the home side a mesmerising merry dance in the opening exchanges. Messi exploded upon Manchester causing heart attacks amongst the locals and it was with great relief on fourteen minutes that United finally awoke from the magical little Argentine's spell to break out.

Cristiano Ronaldo careered into a flurry of Barca shirts but was tackled by full-back Zambrotta, who in turn gave the ball away to an advancing Paul Scholes. Twenty-five yards out and with time to pick his spot, Scholes rifled a ferocious drive into the top left hand corner.

Old Trafford erupted!

Ferguson's dream of a second Champion's League trophy before he finally retired loomed large and for possibly one last time in the shadow of Moscow's Red Square, Scholes would be by his side.

John Ludden
cfieldsoffire@aol.com