Paul Scholes reveals Alex Ferguson forced England star to play despite injury
Ferguson told his injured star: ‘You’re playing’ (Picture: AFP via Getty Images) Paul Scholes has revealed how Sir Alex Ferguson forced one of his Manchester United stars to play despite carrying an injury, a decision which resulted in the player being sidelined ‘for a long time’. United made a number of attempts to sign England international Owen Hargreaves from Bayern Munich with Ferguson eventually getting his man in the summer of 2007. While he helped United secure a Premier League and Champions League double in his first season, Hargreaves’ time at Old Trafford was marred by injury, making just 39 appearances over four seasons. Having spent £17m on the midfielder, Ferguson went onto describe him as one of his most disappointing signings in his 2013 autobiography. Speaking on The Overlap Fan Debate, Scholes explained the manager was desperate to get Hargreaves back in time for an upcoming game against Arsenal in 2010. Get personalised updates on your club every day Wake up to find news on your club in your inbox every morning with Metro’s Football Newsletter. Sign up to our newsletter and then select your team in the link so we can send you football news tailored to you. And when Hargreaves raised concerns over a hamstring issue during the warm-up ahead of kick-off, Scholes claims Ferguson forced him to play through the pain, resulting in another major injury setback. ‘I remember, we had Owen Hargreaves who was unfortunately injured a lot, and the manager eventually became frustrated because we couldn’t get him back,’ Scholes said. Hargreaves did not play again that season (Picture: Manchester United via Getty Images) ‘I remember one game where we were playing Arsenal at home, Owen had been out for some time and was nearly back, and he went out for the warmup and came in feeling his hamstring and you could just see the anger and frustration in the manager’s face. ‘He said, “You’re playing,” and that was it. ‘It didn’t end well – within 15 minutes, Owen had to come off and was out for a long time after that – there has to be frustration from managers as well.’ Scholes’ comments would appear to refer to a November 2010 match against Wolves where Hargreaves was making his first start in over two years following surgery on both knees. Hargreaves was part of the side that won the Champions League in 2008 (Picture: Manchester United via Getty Images) It proved to be his last appearance of the season and his last for United, released at the end of his contract in 2011 before joining neighbours Manchester City. ‘This hamstring injury is a real kick in the teeth,’ Ferguson recalled at the time. ‘He was doing so well in training before the Wolves game. He was absolutely superb. ‘There were no qualms whatsoever about putting him in, even though he had only trained for nine days. ‘We were confident enough to play him but unfortunately it has proved to be a disappointment for us. ‘If he had realised early enough and come off before he had done any more damage, it could have been three to four weeks. But is a complete tear.’ Hargreaves managed just one league appearances in his only season at City, retiring from football in 2012.
Paul Scholes has revealed how Sir Alex Ferguson forced one of his Manchester United stars to play despite carrying an injury, a decision which resulted in the player being sidelined ‘for a long time’.
United made a number of attempts to sign England international Owen Hargreaves from Bayern Munich with Ferguson eventually getting his man in the summer of 2007.
While he helped United secure a Premier League and Champions League double in his first season, Hargreaves’ time at Old Trafford was marred by injury, making just 39 appearances over four seasons.
Having spent £17m on the midfielder, Ferguson went onto describe him as one of his most disappointing signings in his 2013 autobiography.
Speaking on The Overlap Fan Debate, Scholes explained the manager was desperate to get Hargreaves back in time for an upcoming game against Arsenal in 2010.
Get personalised updates on your club every day
Wake up to find news on your club in your inbox every morning with Metro’s Football Newsletter.
Sign up to our newsletter and then select your team in the link so we can send you football news tailored to you.
And when Hargreaves raised concerns over a hamstring issue during the warm-up ahead of kick-off, Scholes claims Ferguson forced him to play through the pain, resulting in another major injury setback.
‘I remember, we had Owen Hargreaves who was unfortunately injured a lot, and the manager eventually became frustrated because we couldn’t get him back,’ Scholes said.
‘I remember one game where we were playing Arsenal at home, Owen had been out for some time and was nearly back, and he went out for the warmup and came in feeling his hamstring and you could just see the anger and frustration in the manager’s face.
‘He said, “You’re playing,” and that was it.
‘It didn’t end well – within 15 minutes, Owen had to come off and was out for a long time after that – there has to be frustration from managers as well.’
Scholes’ comments would appear to refer to a November 2010 match against Wolves where Hargreaves was making his first start in over two years following surgery on both knees.
It proved to be his last appearance of the season and his last for United, released at the end of his contract in 2011 before joining neighbours Manchester City.
‘This hamstring injury is a real kick in the teeth,’ Ferguson recalled at the time.
‘He was doing so well in training before the Wolves game. He was absolutely superb.
‘There were no qualms whatsoever about putting him in, even though he had only trained for nine days.
‘We were confident enough to play him but unfortunately it has proved to be a disappointment for us.
‘If he had realised early enough and come off before he had done any more damage, it could have been three to four weeks. But is a complete tear.’
Hargreaves managed just one league appearances in his only season at City, retiring from football in 2012.
