Are you watching Jose?
PAUL KNOWS HE’S IN THE FIRING LINE
PAUL SCHOLES claims Jose Mourinho will watch him closely at Oldham because he savaged the Special One at Manchester United.
The former Old Trafford midfielder, 44, was Mourinho’s fiercest critic and knows he has put himself in the firing line after swapping the BT Sport studio for the Latics dug-out.
But as he starts his first job in management, Scholes says he’ll ignore the pundits as their views are irrelevant.
“I think he’ll be watching results, whether he’ll be watching the games I’m not too sure,” he said.
“I’ve left myself wide open because I have been quite critical.
“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 him back in the game,” said Solskjaer.
Scholes hopes to take more loan signings from his former club after United kid Zak Dearnley scored on his Latics debut in Saturday’s win over Crawley. He may also get in touch with Sir Alex Ferguson – “the gaffer” – and his Class of 92 pals 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 at home to Yeovil tonight.
The 44-year-old, who has appointed former Latics coach Mick Priest as his No.2, is already hands-on and opened the door at Boundary Park to let some media in yesterday.
He watched Oldham with his dad from the Chaddy End and he has fond memories of the 1990 and 1994 FA Cup semi-finals against the club he would serve with such distinction.
“I’d just left school in 1990 and was going to United as an apprentice for the 3-3,” said Scholes, who has quit as a director at Salford City to get EFL clearance.
“That was so close. That’s probably one of my best memories.
“Then there was the one at Wembley. Oldham were winning for ages and then Mark Hughes scored that volley.
“It’s been 20 or 30 years since there was excitement here and I want to change that.”