Paul Scholes reveals he ‘sliced’ his wonderstrike against Barcelona in the Champions League in 2008
Paul Scholes has admitted that he ‘miskicked’ the ball when he scored his memorable goal for Manchester United against Barcelona in a Champions League semi-final in 2008.
Scholes found the net from 25 yards out at Old Trafford, with United winning 1-0 in the first leg before progressing to the final after drawing 0-0 in the second leg.
United went on to win the Champions League that season as they beat Chelsea on penalties in the final in Moscow, with Scholes’ goal against Barcelona having played a pivotal part in getting Sir Alex Ferguson’s side to that stage.
Paul Scholes says that he ‘mis-kicked’ the ball when he scored versus Barcelona in 2008
The former midfielder has received much praise for his hugely important goal, but admitted that he ‘sliced’ his effort.
Scholes told the Official Manchester United Podcast: ‘I miskicked it, personally. I sliced it off my foot.
In the final against Chelsea, Scholes started and played 87 minutes, with Ferguson making sure to select the midfielder given that he was suspended for United’s success against Bayern Munich in the 1999 final.
Scholes’ goal helped United to reach the final of the Champions League in the 2007-08 season
Current United striker Marcus Rashford, who was also a guest on the podcast, has scored some spectacular goals for the club.
Scholes believes that Rashford’s strike away to West Ham in the FA Cup in 2016 is the forward’s best goal for United.
Scholes believes Rashford’s best goal for United was away to West Ham in the FA Cup in 2016
Rashford’s strike against Liverpool in 2018, when he bamboozled Trent Alexander-Arnold, and his brilliant free-kick against Chelsea in the League Cup this season were also under consideration.
Scholes said: ‘Out of Marcus’ goals I loved his West Ham goal, his Liverpool goal and his Chelsea goal. I just loved the West Ham goal, I know it’s not the most important one but the bit of skill and to bend it in the top corner like that, I think it was brilliant.’
Rashford himself believes that his strike against Chelsea is his best goal so far.
