Scholes reveals risking Ferguson wrath

The recently-retired Scholes refused to travel to London for the game against Arsenal in 2001, and counts himself lucky that he was not hastily shipped out, a fate suffered by many others who defied Ferguson.

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“I don't know why I did what I did in 2001, but it is something I really regretted doing," he said.

"I wasn't in a great mood. I had been left out the Liverpool game the previous weekend and I knew that the team going down to Arsenal in the cup was basically a reserve side.

“I just got a bee in my bonnet that I wasn't happy with things. I had my reasons but it was stupid really.”

Gregg Davies is the Chief Sub Editor of FourFourTwo magazine, joining the team in January 2008 and spending seven years working on the website. He supports non-league behemoths Hereford and commentates on Bulls matches for Radio Hereford FC. His passions include chocolate hobnobs and attempting to shoehorn Ronnie Radford into any office conversation.