Sepuluh Fakta tentang Scholes

MANCHESTER, KOMPAS.com - Gelandang Manchester United, Paul Scholes, telah menyatakan berhenti bermain dari panggung sepak bola profesional. Mulai musim depan, mantan gelandang tim nasional Inggris itu akan melakoni peran baru dengan menjadi staf pelatih di Old Trafford.

Scholes pensiun setelah sukses membawa "Setan Merah" meraih gelar Premier League yang ke-19. Sayang, gelandang berusia 36 tahun itu melakoni pertandingan terakhir yang sangat pahit yakni ketika MU dibungkam 1-3 oleh Barcelona di final Liga Champions, Sabtu (28/5/2011).

Berikut adalah sepuluh fakta tentang Scholes selama kariernya sebagai pemain profesional.

1.Paul Aaron Scholes lahir di Salford pada 16 November 1974. Dia adalah pendukung Oldham Athletic saat masih anak-anak.

2. Dia membuat debutnya bersama Manchester United pada musim 1994-95. Dia tampil sebanyak 17 laga pada musim pertama. Secara keseluruhan, ia telah melakoni 676 pertandingan sejak bergabung dengan "Setan Merah".

3. Dia telah memenangkan sepuluh gelar Premier League, tiga Piala FA, dua Piala Liga, dan dua Liga Champions.

4.Scholes bermain untuk Inggris antara tahun 1997 dan 2004 dengan mencetak 14 gol dari 66 penampilan. Ia tampil di Piala Dunia 1998 dan final Piala Dunia 2002.

5.Legenda Perancis Zinedine Zidane menggambarkan Scholes sebagai "pemain tengah paling hebat di generasinya."

6.Di Manchester United, hanya tiga pemain yang bermain lebih banyak dari Scholes.

7.Scholes menikah dengan Claire dan mereka telah memiliki tiga anak.

8.Dia memiliki gambaran hari ideal bagi dirinya sendiri yakni, naik kereta di pagi hari, menjemput anak-anak dari sekolah, bermain dengan mereka, minum teh, menemani mereka tidur, dan menonton televisi.

9.Scholes adalah satu-satunya pemain Inggris yang pernah diusir dari lapangan pada pertandingan internasional di Wembley, yaitu saat melawan Swedia pada tahun 1999.

10.Sir Alex Ferguson berkata: "Paul adalah seorang pemain yang benar-benar luar biasa. Dia selalu menjadi inspirasi bagi pemain dari segala usia dan kita tahu bahwa akan melanjutkan peran barunya."

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Scholes on song in Turkey

Playing in a raucous Turkish atmosphere - where the home fans roar whatever the score - quietening the crowd was not an option for United. But nevertheless, the Reds produced the consummate European away performance to bag three points and take a giant step towards the knock-out stages of the Champions League.

The importance of the Bursaspor game was reflected in Sir Alex’s team selection. For me, the gaffer got it spot on with the midfield in particular controlling proceedings from the offset.

This match was made for Paul Scholes. European away fixtures are all about keeping the ball and boy, did he keep the ball. At times I thought there was at least four of him on the pitch; he always seemed to be in space, acting as an escape route for his team mates and when he was on the ball, what a sight to behold.

We’ve seen it so many times before but when Scholesy's on form there is hardly a player in the world who can touch him. Controlling the game from deep, as he often does nowadays, some of his passes were magic, particularly a first-time 40-yard raker to Berbatov in the first half. He was unlucky not to get the goal he deserved as his first half strike was (rightly) ruled out but he made up for it with a terrific reverse ball to set up Bebe (or was it Ali Tandogan?) for United’s third.

Another midfielder who stood out for me was Michael Carrick. He seems to be slowly edging back to the scintillating form shown in the 2007/08 double-winning season and I think we saw some vintage Carrick in the second half when he was breaking up play and finding his intended target with numerous first-time passes. His assist for Fletcher’s goal was also expertly executed.

Some might say I’m going over the top with my praise of United’s performance,given the strength of the opposition, but while Bursaspor offered little in attack, their defensive strategy worked for 48 minutes. Although the Reds had control of the game, the home side's tireless chasing made it difficult for United to find any rhythm. However, just like in Valencia a little over a month ago, you knew it wouldn’t last and so it proved as the Reds ran riot in the second half.

UEFA might have taken his goal away but Bebe's involvement will still do his confidence the world of good and further defy the critics who've harshly dogged him since his surprise arrival. One lung-busting run from the halfway line showed he has pace to burn as well as an eye for goal.

Speaking after the game, Sir Alex said he was pleased by the impact of his younger contingent and the experience they're gaining - and also by the way his midfielders are chipping in with goals. A healthy return of goals from midfield - reminiscent of the days of Beckham, Giggs, Keane and Scholes - would be a big plus for the Reds this season.

The only minuses on an otherwise excellent European night were the injuries to Fletcher and Nani. The worry shown by all as the two exited proceedings shows how important the two players are for United - here's hoping they make a swift recovery, if not for Wolves on Saturday, then certainly for City next Wednesday.

We head into those two league matches in a terrific vein of form, on the back of five straight wins in three competitions. Just as the cold weather sets in, and big games loom, the Reds are warming up nicely.
The views expressed in this article are personal to the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Manchester United FC.

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Wenger backs Reds

Wenger backs Red Devils for title

Arsene Wenger reckons Liverpool's win over Manchester United "flattered" Rafael Benitez's side and insists United are still favourites to win the league. Wenger, whose side are 13 points behind United, is unconvinced anyone can catch the champions, despite Liverpool's win on Saturday. "There are two things I'd like to say. Firstly, congratulations to Liverpool for winning with an emphatic score, but I think... it is a very flattering score. For big spells in the game, Manchester United dominated but they made mistakes on the day that usually they don't do. Some players looked a bit mentally tired. It opens up the race for the title, even though I still believe Manchester United are in a strong position with the game in hand."
Sam Wallace, The Independent

Former Arsenal striker Ian Wright recalls the season when the Gunners clawed back a 12-point gap to win the league after winning at Old Trafford 11 years ago to the day that Liverpool did.

John Terry has warned United: "We're coming to get you - and we'll never give up." He said: "United have good players but after a big defeat like they had this weekend, you never know how they will react."

In other news, the Daily Mail report that Zenit St Petersburg are preparing a £4million bid for United goalkeeper Tomasz Kuszczak.

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Quin the mood

Flying Ryan eyes record trophy haul
Ryan Giggs reckons Manchester United have all the qualities to clinch an unprecedented Quintuple. United have already won the Carling Cup and Club World Cup this season, while they look to be closing in on their 11th Premier League title. FA Cup semi-final and Champions League quarter-final ties are also approaching. And United legend Giggs, 35, said: “We’ll take each competition as it comes but the belief is there and the momentum is with us.”
Staff reporter, The Sun

Former Reds goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel, who helped United to Treble glory in '99, believes it is unrealistic to expect five trophies this season. "If my heart was talking, I would trot out the party line and say United will win all five, but my experience tells me it is not realistic to expect a clean sweep," he admitted.

Ahead of United's clash with Liverpool, Nemanja Vidic says the Reds will crank up their performance against Liverpool. "We will definitely try to improve, to erase the mistakes we made against Inter and play better against Liverpool," he said.

Meanwhile, Zinedine Zidane believes Steven Gerrard is the best player on the planet rating the Liverpool midfielder above Cristiano Ronaldo.

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Twins shun Gunners

Rafael: Arsenal scout wanted to tap me up

Manchester United’s Brazilian twin full-backs Rafael and Fabio da Silva revealed they were approached by a man claiming to represent the Gunners. Even though they were only 15 at the time, he asked them to betray their Brazilian club Fluminense, who had already agreed to let the brothers move to Old Trafford. Rafael, now 18, said: “We were not too happy with the way he approached us. The scout said he was from Arsenal and invited us to come and train. At that time we had already been to see Manchester United and train once with our club’s permission. But this man wanted to take us to England and say nothing to Fluminense. We disagreed with that principle. Fluminense was where we started, we had been there for years and they looked after us.”
Ian McGarry, The Sun

The twins' story isn't the only controversy surrounding Arsenal in today's newspapers. The Gunners have joined United, Everton and opponents Chelsea in the FA Cup semi-finals by beating Hull City 2-1 - but William Gallas' winning goal was scored from an offside position, according to raging Tigers' boss Phil Brown: "We’ve not been beaten by Arsenal, we’ve been beaten by the referee and the linesman. It’s disgraceful." (Quoted in The Sun)

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Manchester United Kalah Telak

It had looked rosy when Cristiano Ronaldo converted a first-half penalty, but an uncharacteristically nervy display at the back allowed Liverpool back into this match; and the subsequent 4-1 defeat means the Reds’ lead at the top is chopped to four points, albeit with a game in hand.

Ronaldo put United ahead but three defensive mistakes led to Liverpool goals, and Nemanja Vidic’s second-half sending-off, which preceded the visitors' third goal, put paid to taking any points. In truth, this wasn’t a great day at the office, it never quite clicked into place. But one thing is certain: this defeat must be used to propel the Reds forward in the title race. The team responds well to set-backs, and this is only a minor stumble.

United made three changes from the team that beat Internazionale in midweek. Whereas Sir Alex chose the experience of Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs against Jose Mourinho’s men, the Reds boss favoured the energy and youthful vigour of Anderson and Ji-sung Park, while Carlos Tevez partnered Wayne Rooney in place of Dimitar Berbatov.

It must have stuck in the throats of Liverpool’s players and fans when United were welcomed onto the field as “the Champions of England, the Champions of Europe, and the Champions of the World”. Such is United’s dominance these days that the roles are reversed from when Liverpool dominated at home and abroad years ago.

The shouts of “United, United” were deafening as the teams kicked off, and the sheer gravity of how potentially decisive this match could be added extra spice, though it was hardly needed. Liverpool, who knew that they had. http://www.manutd.com
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Liverpool menghancurkan sepuluh pemain Manchester United pada duel lanjutan Liga Inggris di Old Trafford, Sabtu (14/3). Tim tamu menang 4-1 sekaligus menghambat laju MU mengejar juara musim ini.

Ini merupakan sejarah baru bagi Liverpool, yang selalu kalah di Old Trafford sejak lima tahun silam. Kemenangan "The Reds" di kandang MU terakhir kali terjadi pada April 2004, saat Gerard Houllier masih menjadi pelatih. Kemenangan ini sekaligus merupakan kemenangan ke-100 di Premier League bagi pelatih Rafael Benitez sejak datang ke Anfield pada Juni 2004.

Kemenangan "The Kop" pun serasa manis karena hasil ini membuat posisi mereka naik ke urutan kedua dan memangkas jaraknya dengan MU menjadi berselisih empat poin. Chelsea bisa memanaskan persaingan perebutan gelar musim ini jika berhasil mengalahkan Manchester City, Minggu (15/3).kompas.com
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Manchester United hancur lebur
itu yang bisa aku katakan sesaat setelah menonton pertandingan MU vs Liverpool. Semangat pemain Liverpool mampu mengatasi daya magis Old Trafford. Well "bola bundar" jadi menang kalah adalah hal yang wajar. Congratulation to Liverpool and for Manutd ... keep going :)

Man United 1
Ronaldo (23)
Liverpool 4
Torres (28), Gerrard (44), Aurelio (77), Dossena (90)

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