SIR ALEX FERGUSON was well known for taking risks throughout his career, but Paul Scholes has revealed when one of these backfired spectacularly.
Speaking on The Overlap Fan Debate, brought to you by Sky Bet, Scholes recalled the story of how Owen Hargreaves was left to bare the consequences of one of those risks.
Paul Scholes has recalled how Sir Alex Ferguson took a big risk on the fitness of Owen Hargreaves[/caption]
Hargreaves’ injury record had left Ferguson ‘frustrated’[/caption]
Hargreaves joined Man Utd in 2007 and played there through until 2011, but only appeared 27 times due to being plagued by injury.
However, Ferguson had grown frustrated and angry with the persistent injuries the midfielder suffered from.
And with a crunch match against Arsenal coming up in just over a month’s time, Ferguson was keen to hand Hargreaves some minutes against Wolves.
Hargreaves was named in the starting XI for the clash against Wolves, which was his first start since September 2008 and only his second Premier League game since a recurring patellar tendinitis problem.
But Scholes recalled how Hargreaves had warned the Scottish coach he was feeling a hamstring injury before Ferguson told him he was playing, only to get injured and be sidelined for a long time.
One-club legend Scholes said: “I remember, we had Owen Hargreaves who was unfortunately injured a lot, and the manager eventually became frustrated because we couldn’t get him back.
“I remember one game where we were playing Arsenal at home, Owen had been out for some time and was nearly back, and he went out for the warmup and came in feeling his hamstring and you could just see the anger and frustration in the manager’s face.
“He said, ‘You’re playing,’ and that was it.
“It didn’t end well – within 15 minutes, Owen had to come off and was out for a long time after that – there has to be frustration from managers as well.”
Hargreaves was replaced by Bebe on the right wing after just 10 minutes of the clash, which they won thanks to a brace from Ji-sung Park.
Ferguson had admitted after the game he had taken a risk on the midfielder’s fitness.
He said: “We were at the stage where we knew Owen’s knee was okay.
“His training performances for eight or nine days previously had been terrific.
“He had done really well, which is why we took the chance.
“But maybe the tension in the build-up for the lad was too much and he suffered because of it.”
It would be Hargreaves’ last game in a Red Devils shirt, with Ferguson saying in his 2013 autobiography that Hargreaves was one of his most disappointing signings.
Man Utd ratings vs Fulham
MANCHESTER UNITED crashed out the FA Cup on penalties against Fulham.
Victor Lindelof and Joshua Zirkzee had poor spot-kicks saved as the Red Devils slipped to their sixth home defeat under Ruben Amorim.
Fulham broke the deadlock on the stroke of half-time with a well-worked corner.
Antonee Robinson darted to the near post and flicked it onto Calvin Bassey who directed his header into the bottom corner brilliantly.
Just as United’s frustrations were brewing, Bruno Fernandes was the saviour yet again.
He picked up Diogo Dalot’s perfect cut back and fired it beyond the stretch of Bernd Leno.
United had chances towards the end of the second-half, with subs Alejandro Garnacho and Chido Obi unable to finish.
There was nothing to separate the sides in extra-time and penalties were needed.
Despite well-taken kicks from Fernandes, Diogo Dalot and Casemiro, Lindelof and Zirkzee woefully fired directly at Fulham hero Leno.
But which Man Utd players could hold their heads up and which flopped?
