Jose can say what he likes. I won’t take any notice
SCHOLES READY FOR REVENGE ATTACKS
PAUL SCHOLES reckons Jose Mourinho will watch his progress with Oldham more keenly than most – because of the savaging he gave him when he was Manchester United boss.
Scholes, Mourinho’s fiercest critic, has put himself in the firing line after swapping the BT Sport studio for the Oldham dugout.
Mourinho will no doubt be praying he falls flat on his face, but Scholes says he will ignore any revenge criticism. “I think he’ll be watching results, whether he’ll be watching the games I’m not too sure,” said Scholes of the former Old Trafford boss.
“I’ve left myself wide open because I have been quite critical.
“But I have never really understood why players and managers take notice of what pundits say.
“They’re just giving an opinion on the game and get paid for doing so. If anyone wants to have a pop at me, I won’t take any notice. The only person I answer to is the owner.”
Mourinho’s successor, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, is amused Scholes has given up his microphone for a tracksuit.
“He’s asking for it and he’s walking right into it, but it’s fantastic to have Scholesy back in the game,” said United’s caretaker manager.
Scholes said he might phone Sir Alex Ferguson – “the gaffer” as he still calls him – for advice as he bids to get Oldham out of League Two.
“I’m sure the gaffer is on the other end of the phone,” said Scholes, whose first game is against Yeovil at Boundary Park tonight.
Although Scholes supported United as a kid, Oldham was where he watched his football and he has fond memories of the 1990 and 1994 FA Cup semi-finals against the club he would serve with such distinction.
“The one at Wembley... Oldham were winning for ages and then Mark Hughes scored that volley,” he recalled. “My dad was the Oldham fan. I went because they were great to watch under Joe Royle. It’s been 20 or 30 years since there was excitement here and I want to change that.”