‘He screamed like a big baby’: Paul Scholes slams Didier Deschamps for his reaction to Manchester United star’s tackle that saw him pick up a yellow card and miss the 1999 Champions League final
- Paul Scholes was booked in the 1999 Champions League semis against Juventus
- The Manchester United man’s tackle on Didier Deschamps cost him a final place
- Scholes says Deschamps ‘screamed like a big baby’ after the tackle in Turin
- The Red Devils legend went on to play in the 2008 European final versus Chelsea
Paul Scholes says Didier Deschamps ‘screamed like a big baby’ in the tackle that cost the Manchester United star a Champions League final appearance in 1999.
Scholes picked up the booking in the semi-final second leg against Juventus, where United came from behind to win 3-2 and book their spot in the final against Bayern Munich.
United would go on to win the final 2-1 in dramatic last minute circumstances in Barcelona, but both Scholes and captain Roy Keane were suspended for picking up yellow cards in that memorable tussle in Turin.
Paul Scholes is booked in the semi-final against Juventus which meant he missed the 1999 final
Both Scholes and Roy Keane were suspended for the final, when United completed their treble
Speaking about missing out on that historic treble-winning final, Scholes told the A Goal in One podcast: ‘You just deal with it don’t you. I was gutted at the time but there’s nothing you can do about it.
‘I tackled Deschamps and I’ve seen it a few times. I don’t think it was a foul, to be honest with you. It was right in front of the ref, he screamed like a big girl, like a big baby which didn’t help me.
The Manchester United midfielder admits he was ‘gutted’ to miss the Champions League final
Juventus star Deschamps (left) was on the receiving end of Scholes’ tackle in the semi-final
‘It got me booked and I missed the final but I may not have played in the final, you never know.’
Scholes made up for the disappointment of missing out nine years later, as he started in the 2008 Champions League final against Chelsea, which United won on penalties.
Scholes would play in a Champions League final though, in the victory against Chelsea in 2008
But despite Sir Alex Ferguson’s side missing their two linchpins in central midfield, Scholes emphasised the adaptability of that ’99 side to deal with their absence.
‘I was devastated to miss it, of course I was. Roy was as well,’ Scholes admitted.
‘But it didn’t matter who was missing, we still had the capability in the squad, someone can fill in and do just as good a job.’
