sportbible homepage
sportbible homepage
  • Home
  • Football
    • Premier League
    • Champions League
    • World Cup
    • England
    • Transfer News
    • Manchester United
    • Liverpool
    • Arsenal
    • Real Madrid
    • Barcelona
  • Formula 1
    • Red Bull
    • Ferrari
    • McLaren
    • Mercedes
    • Max Verstappen
    • Lewis Hamilton
    • Lando Norris
    • George Russell
    • Charles Leclerc
  • Boxing
  • UFC
  • More Sport
    • Tennis
    • Golf
    • NBA
    • NFL
    • Darts
    • Athletics
    • Rugby
    • Wrestling
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Archive
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Snapchat
TikTok
Threads
YouTube
Submit Your Content Here
  • GAMINGbible
  • LADbible Group
  • UNILAD
  • LADbible
  • Tyla
  • FOODbible
  • UNILAD Tech
Paul Scholes names the two Man United team-mates he didn't like playing alongside and admits it was a 'disaster'
Home>Football>Football News>Man Utd
Published 19:56 31 Mar 2025 GMT+1

Paul Scholes names the two Man United team-mates he didn't like playing alongside and admits it was a 'disaster'

Scholes found it difficult to play alongside two former Manchester United players - and named them both.

Ryan Smart

Ryan Smart

google discoverFollow us on Google Discover

Paul Scholes has named the two Manchester United team-mates he did not like playing alongside at Old Trafford.

Scholes came through United's youth setup as part of the 'Class of '92', before retiring for the first time in 2011.

After a season out of the game, he accepted an offer from Sir Alex Ferguson to return for the 2012/13 campaign and won his 13th and final Premier League title.

During his time at Old Trafford, the legendary midfielder would play against some of world football's elite stars of their generations, including Eric Cantona, Roy Keane, Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney.

Advert

His Class of 92 team-mates Gary Neville and Ryan Giggs would both be at United for the entirety of Scholes' first stint and, like their team-mate, would play their entire careers at the Manchester club.

But Scholes has admitted that, out of all of his team-mates, there were only two players that he did not particularly enjoy playing alongside.

Speaking to Gary Neville on The Overlap Xtra, he revealed that he preferred featuring in midfield alongside players who were not naturally attack-minded - as he often struggled when paired with Juan Sebastian Veron or Anderson.

He explained: "I played with Nicky Butt, I played with Roy. Michael Carrick. I loved playing with all of them.

"It wasn't great playing with people who [were] attacking people. I needed someone who played that position really well."

Neville replied: "Someone like Veron, you mean?"

"Yeah. Me and Veron were a disaster," Scholes admitted.

"I think me and Anderson did it once. Just, no, it's not working, is it?

"Just two lads who don't care about defending, don't know the [defensive] position that well. But it worked better with a Michael or a Roy or a Nicky.

"They were brilliant playing that position, they knew. I didn't know the position that well. I didn't play in the position that well, as you know."

Veron became the most expensive player in English football history when he signed for United from Lazio in 2001, for a fee of £28.7 million.

But his two years at Old Trafford were largely unsuccessful as he struggled to adapt to English football, though he showed more of his talents following his decision to join Chelsea.

Now 50, Veron is still involved with football as the president of his former club Estudiantes in Argentina.

Veron is the president of Argentine club Estudiantes (Image: Getty)
Veron is the president of Argentine club Estudiantes (Image: Getty)

Anderson, meanwhile, quit football in 2019 and became assistant manager of Turkish club Adana Demirspor.

He won the Golden Boy award in 2008 shortly after signing for United, but became an increasingly bit-part player over seven seasons and left the club in 2015.

Writing in his autobiography, his former United team-mate Rafael gave an insight into why the Brazilian did not become one of the best players in world football..

"Give him a football and he would just play with freedom," Rafael explained. "If he got a good run of games, he could play as well as any player in the league. Not only that, but when he was playing well, we were playing brilliant football.

"He picked up a lot of injuries, and then his problems with eating the way he did started to affect.

"It was no coincidence that his best form came when he had a lot of games, because that was when he couldn't eat so much."

Featured Image Credit: Getty

Topics: Paul Scholes, Manchester United, Football, Premier League, Sir Alex Ferguson

Ryan Smart
Ryan Smart

Live in constant hope of the top flight as a Preston North End fan. Written in the past for SPORF, GiveMeSport and more.

Recommended reads

Luke Riley makes bold prediction ahead of blockbuster fight on Conor McGregor v Max Holloway cardGetty ImagesForget Conor McGregor - Lone'er Kavanagh is the UFC star you should be watching this weekendGetty ImagesF1 and F3 trainer reveals gruelling physical and mental work drivers must do for each race ahead of British GPGettyDavid Croft proposes new Olympic sport with drivers from 'around the world' ahead of British GPGetty

Advert

Choose your content:

5 hours ago
7 hours ago
8 hours ago
11 hours ago
  • Getty
    5 hours ago

    Liverpool prepared to hijack Man Utd transfer in huge blow to Michael Carrick

    Liverpool are back in for a Manchester United target and are hopeful of stealing him.

    Football
  • Getty
    7 hours ago

    Argentina's strict national team rule which would have seen Lionel Messi banned from playing

    Argentina are looking to win back-to-back World Cups and take on England in the semi-finals on Wednesday.

    Football
  • Getty
    8 hours ago

    Julian Alvarez Premier League transfer bombshell drops just hours after goal in Argentina game

    A possible transfer destination for Alvarez has re-emerged after the Atletico Madrid star's World Cup screamer.

    Football
  • Getty Images
    11 hours ago

    Lionel Messi makes big claim about England as he sends warning to Three Lions players

    Messi will come up against England for the first time in his career on Wednesday.

    Football
  • Paul Scholes Hated Playing With Two Man United Team-Mates Who Were A 'Disaster'
  • Paul Scholes admits 'unbelievable' talent wasted at Man Utd didn't like football
  • Man Utd player dubbed ‘next Paul Scholes’ by Sir Alex Ferguson has contract ripped up by club
  • Ex-Man Utd star names the one player who was treated different to everyone else and was like a son to Sir Alex Ferguson