EXCLUSIVE: Scholes warns Fergie won't quit he sees off City's challenge
Published 22:31 22/10/11 By Simon Mullock
City boss Roberto Mancini admits he admires how Ferguson retains his passion for the game as he nears his 70th birthday – and Scholes believes it is challenges like the one being mounted from the other side of Manchester that enables the United manager to hold back the years.
Scholes, 36, now on United’s coaching staff after almost two decades of winning everything under the club’s most successful manager, reckons there’s plenty more to be achieved as Ferguson gets set to mark the 25th anniversary of his arrival in Manchester.
Scholes said: “Sir Alex has seen off Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea in his time at United.
“He will want to make sure that City never finish above us while he’s still in charge at Old Trafford.
“He might have beaten Liverpool’s record with a 19th title, but there’s absolutely no sign of him stopping.
“When you see this new team he’s built, playing the football they are, there’s no reason for him to think about retirement.
“In fact, I think being manager of Manchester United and the constant challenges to come with the job helps to keep him feeling young.” Scholes (below) won 11 of the 22 Manchester derbies he played in and scored the winner at the Stretford End when he first faced City in 1995.
But Scholes’ final derby appearance saw him sent off at Wembley last April as the Blues won 1-0 in the FA Cup semi-final.
He found City’s net six times – and in his recently-published book ‘Scholes – My Story’ he described the injury-time header that beat the Blues and virtually secured the title in April 2010 as “the most satisfying goal I ever scored...because City thought they were becoming a big club.”
Scholes, who didn’t appreciate the celebratory kiss on the lips from Gary Neville that the goal earned him, said: “The words in the book about that goal were chosen very carefully. It was meant as a put-down to City.
“As a Manchester lad and a United fan I never want to see them doing well.
“They have started the season in good form and it’s hard to take. I just hope that we keep on being better than them.”
Scholes added: “To be honest, I don’t have any problem with the money City have spent like other people seem to do.
“Money doesn’t guarantee success, but without it you won’t win anything.
“Other clubs have done exactly the same thing in the past and it’s great for Manchester that there are now two clubs challenging at the top of the table – just as long as it’s United that always come out on top.
“The fact is City will never be able to compete with us when it comes to sheer size and history.
“But if they progress like they have done then one day they will have a great chance of winning the title. Even if you’re a Red you can’t ignore them any more, but Sir Alex will be desperate to stop them finishing top as long as he’s here.”
Scholes, Neville and Edwin van der Sar retired in the aftermath of the record 19th title success and the Champions League Final defeat to Barcelona.
But the man United fans dubbed the ‘Ginger Prince’ isn’t surprised that the new generation have made the transition seamless.
Scholes said: “I knew as soon as I told the manager I was retiring that he would have a player ready to replace me.
“Lads like Danny Welbeck, Tom Cleverley, Ashley Young and Phil Jones have stepped up to the plate and are already starting to deliver.
“Down the years, United have lost great footballers but Sir Alex has always been able to replace them.
“Being there every week to see the great football they produce is what makes the man tick. He will love just watching them develop.
“It’s incredible really. United just seem to carry on whatever happens. It’s like a machine.”
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