Roy Keane has revealed that Paul Scholes was his preferred midfield partner during his time at Manchester United.
The pair spent the best part of 12 years playing together at Old Trafford, Scholes being promoted to the first team shortly after Keane arrived from Nottingham Forest in 1993.
And Keane believes it was Scholes' game which best complemented his in the centre of the park.
‘Me and Scholsey had a good relationship and I played with loads of players but if I had to pick anyone, it would be Scholes,' the Sky Sports pundit said following his former club's 1-1 draw with Arsenal on Monday night.
'Scholes would go forward, I would sit and vice versa. I always enjoyed playing with him and the same with Paul Ince.’
The Irishman believes the Premier League, and particularly United, are lacking players who can truly do the job that he once did.
'Nobody springs to mind,' he responded when asked who he thinks is good in his position. 'Kante – yeah good player. You saw Paul Pogba tonight, shocking. The times he gave the ball away cheaply. It’s criminal.'
Keane also discussed which midfielders he found the biggest challenge to play against during his career.
'Gary Speed was a top player to come up against and people always remember me kicking people but they guys were kicking me. I was just retaliating. Zinedine Zidane was nasty, very very nasty but brilliant.'
The 48-year-old went on to give his thoughts about the position in general and the importance of getting forward and getting goals.
'That was part of my role,' he explained. 'If you’re playing midfield, you have to get a goal. At Forest I worked with really good strikers and had to be on the turn. Sometimes I’d be a headless chicken.
'When I first arrived at United, I didn’t think I was getting involved in the build-up. I don’t think I had the confidence to do it. Bryan Robson said: ‘If you want to get better, you’re going to have to get more involved’, and if I didn’t listen, what chance did I have?
'The priority for a midfielder is "can I pass it forward?" I had options. You’re supposed to pass it forward. Zip it into him, give him a chance. You had great options when you are at Manchester United. It was a simple pass but I made a living out of it.'
Tetbist
0
the way Roy Kean say it is true because Paul pogba is alone at man united late him by for 4striker and 2midfid pp is the best
korean
1
Neville' and Scholes' hate for Pogba? it's baffling!
Hellsing
1
We play with 2 midfielders and and a 10 but none of them are his best positions and when he's not played in his best position(which is on the left in a 3 man midfield) he tends to have really poor games. And he has been inconsistent throughout the time he's been here. My only problem with this is I don't think a player with half the quality that Paul has is available or will even come to us.
jeersure
0
I agree with scholes. I get what he's saying because even though Pogba is our best player(by a mile),he doesn't suit the system we play now.
Waynens
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Pogba has been great for united and would be an enormous loss if he were to leave. No one: P. Scholes: Pogba needs to go
typewrit
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No one: P. Scholes: Pogba needs to go
Deburey
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eville has gone off the rails recently, Keane's a contrarian, Scholes comes out with random hot takes, and Giggs has his head very far up his own ass. Who would have thought Nicky Butt would become the most reasonable/likeable one of those guys nearly 30 years on?
overthing
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Keane is not a part of the "class of 92". I know, I was just thinking about all the players from that era who are now pundits or media personalities.
Balcombe
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What about good old Beckham. Seems to keep his head down as he is mostly focused on his MLS Club. Keane, Neville, Scholes and Giggs I feel have mostly been very negative toward the players/anyone who isn't British.
Haseesex
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Scholes could come back from retirement
oedipus
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People like Neville, Scholes, and Keane always have an opinon on what's going on(especially recently) and it's rarely helpful or meaningful in any way. I do think it funny that the player who was the most "media famous" is not the one that is the most discreet with his opinion about the club.
Mocca
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Butt is also not a pundit at all. No need to take interviews or write newspaper columns in his current role. No, and because he's got a role with the club he's by default going to make more positive statements. That part was more tongue in cheek.
osatrab
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Our high profile legends like Neville, Scholes, and Keane just repeatedly spout random takes about us despite barely being involved with the club and I've stopped taking most of what they say seriously