‘Paul Scholes is the greatest Manchester United player of all time’ – 1999 treble-winning hero Dwight Yorke

Paul Scholes(Getty Images)

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By Michel Nasrallah

Former Manchester United striker Dwight Yorke believes that his old team-mate Paul Scholes is the greatest player in the club’s history.

The midfielder, who played alongside Yorke in the famous treble-winning team of the 1998-99 season, has come in for criticism this season, with many calling on the 36-year-old to retire, particularly after he was sent off in the defeat to Manchester City in the FA Cup semi-final at Wembley.

Speaking exclusively to Goal.com, Yorke said: “In my eyes Paul Scholes is the best Man United player of all time.

“I still see Scholesy train. He is still one of the best players out there. Unfortunately he does not have as many opportunities because in the past if you picked a Manchester United team he is the first name. When we are picking a team among ourselves everyone wants Scholesy because any team he is in will control the ball.

“So I think one more year would be ideal for Paul Scholes but I know for a fact that he is contemplating whether he wants to have one more year or not.”

The former Trinidad and Tobago international made his name at Old Trafford alongside Andy Cole, with the pair scoring 53 goals in his debut season at the club as United went on to win the Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League.

Now, United appeared to have found another world class striking partnership in Wayne Rooney and Javier Hernandez, and Yorke feels that they are a deadly asset.

He said: “They are so great to see. In every team you want your strikers to play well. There is no point in having those great midfielders and defenders if your strikers are not great because at the end of the day, these are the players that will win you football matches. They have a great combination.

“What is exciting about them is that one goes long and one goes short and that is the ideal partnership or combination. You don’t want two players being similar with both coming for the ball.

“Chicharito is not interested in coming to the ball. He is only interested in getting beyond and getting a goal. Rooney is interested in coming back and linking the play.

“Once you are running towards the goal the way he Chicharito does and you have such players behind you, you will always score goals. I think they are a great asset to have.”

Yorke also played for Aston Villa, Blackburn and Sunderland in the Premier League but insisted that Sir Alex Ferguson was the greatest manager that he ever played under.

He said: “He Ferguson is second to none. He is the best manger I played under without a doubt.

“He is great in motivating players. But who motivates him you wonder? He comes every day to the training but he could be sitting at home.”

Manchester City were playing in Division Two the equivalent of League One when Yorke joined United in 1998 but having seen them rise in stature following their multi-million pound takeover a decade later, the former striker admitted that the club have become a force to be reckoned with, and predicts they will become stronger in the years to come.

“You’d be silly to ignore them,” said Yorke. “I’m not saying money will buy you success, not at all, but it certainly helps and they are just beginning to see the fruits of their ambition.

“As long as they have the pockets deep enough to keep attracting top names to the club, and crucially, players who are at their peak, then they’re going to be contenders.

“Whether they can bring the combination of players together who can win the title is a different challenge.

“Alex Ferguson said recently that he felt the league was getting harder to win, rather than easier which is interesting for a guy who has won it as often as him.

“Maybe he’s playing mind games with the other clubs who are looking to win a league trophy and knocking them down a peg or two, but it certainly won’t be an easy task to win a league regardless of how much money they have to spend.”

Dwight Yorke is an expert analyst on AD Sports channels this weekend as the Barclays Premier League reaches its climax with Manchester United lifting the title for a record ninth time and a host of other clubs battling to avoid relegation.