Paul Scholes was ‘EMBARRASSED’ to lift the Champions League trophy in 1999 having watched from the stands as the Manchester United legend insists he ‘didn’t feel part’ of the success to clinch the treble
- Paul Scholes was suspended for the 1999 UEFA Champions League final
- A foul on Juventus’ Didier Deschamps in the semi-final cost Scholes his place
- He watched from the stands but felt celebrating later was ’embarrassing’ for him
- Scholes said he didn’t ‘feel part of it one bit’ as Man United sealed a treble
Paul Scholes has detailed his embarrassment at celebrating Manchester United winning the 1999 Champions League final having played no part in the game.
Scholes was booked in United’s semi-final against Juventus for a challenge on Didier Deschamps, ruling him out of the final against Bayern Munich for an accumulation of yellow cards.
Along with Roy Keane, Scholes wore a club suit and had to watch from the stands at the Nou Camp, before coming on to the pitch at the end to celebrate with team-mates, a moment he does not hold fond memories of.
Paul Scholes celebrated the 1999 Champions League despite missing out through suspension
‘You don’t feel part of it one bit,’ Scholes said, as part of BT Sport‘s latest ‘What I Wore’ series.
‘Some people say that’s strange because you played a part of the 15-16 games to get to where you are but you’re in the stands and have no control over the game. There is nothing you can do influence that game of football.’
He added: ‘We went on the pitch at the end but you’re embarrassed. It’s embarrassing, honestly.’
Scholes, 47, can still remember the challenge he made in the Juventus game that cost him his shot at the ’99 final.
Booked for a foul on Didier Deschamps in the semi-finals, Scholes (left) has opened up on how ‘upset’ he was and why he never truly felt part of the experience in clinching a famous treble
Scholes (left) is the latest guest to go down memory lane on BT Sport’s ‘What I Wore’ series
The former Manchester United midfielder can still remember the wave of disappointment as he immediately knew what the yellow card meant.
‘It’s football,’ he added. ‘Roy (Keane) was a big loss, but it’s football. It wasn’t a bad tackle and I can hear Deschamps screaming now trying to get me booked! They were clever but it was my own fault.
‘You know straight away and you’re sad, you’re upset, of course you are, not to be part of the selection for the biggest game of our lives but you get on with it.’
Scholes did go on to experience a European Cup final, against Chelsea in 2007-08, as well as two against Barcelona, in 2008-09 and 2010-11.
United produced one of their most famous results to defeat Bayern Munich to win in 1999
United were victorious in that Moscow final against Chelsea, coming through on penalties.
But Scholes and his team-mates ran into one of the best club teams ever and lost both finals against Pep Guardiola’s iconic side of Lionel Messi, Xavi, Andres Iniesta and others.
Scholes was used off the bench in both games against the Spanish giants.
Further episodes of What I Wore will be released in over the coming weeks and will be available to watch on the BT Sport YouTube channel, Twitter, Facebook and at BTSport.com/WhatIWore.
