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      Man Utd legend Paul Scholes names Papa Bouba Diop as one his three toughest opponents alongside Vieira and Savage

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      PAUL SCHOLES named Papa Bouba Diop as one of the toughest opponents he came up against.The former Fulham, Portsmouth and Senegal international sadly passed away at the age of 42 in November 2020.
      Paul Scholes in action against Papa Bouba Diop back in 2008Credit: Times Newspapers Ltd
      Diop died after a long illness, with his former clubs paying tribute to the 2008 FA Cup winner.
      The ex-Lens ace was also part of the Senegal side that shocked world champions France in the opening game of the 2002 World Cup.
      Manchester United legend Scholes, 48, came up against the likes of Xavi, Andres Iniesta and Zinedine Zidane during his career.
      In fact, over his 718 appearances for the Red Devils, Scholes faced virtually every great player of his generation.
      But he has revealed it was former Fulham man Bouba Diop – who was nicknamed The Wardrobe – along with Patrick Vieira and Robbie Savage that caused him the most problems.
      The ex-England star told Savage Social: “When I played central midfield I like to go into games thinking ‘I just want to have all the time in the world here, just nobody around me, just find a little bit of space and pass the ball around’.
      “Then you play against people like you (Robbie Savage).
      “An absolute nuisance, trying to close you down dead quick. I don’t want that, I just want it nice and relaxed.
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      “The way I played I didn’t really have to beat people or be stronger, quicker than the other person.
      “I suppose Patrick Vieira, you play against him he is so long, he is so big.
      “You think you’ve got the ball, and the next minute he nicks it over your head.
      “He was a clever player as well. There’s one more that people won’t think of. We used to play against Portsmouth.
      “Do you remember Papa Bouba Diop? Big, massive. They used to call him The Wardrobe!
      “You get involved physically with him and you’re wasting your time.
      “I always found him awkward to play against. He wasn’t a Vieira, of course he wasn’t, but he still had talent.”
      Portsmouth icon Papa Bouba Diop tragically passed away at the age of 42
      The Red Devils legend did not enjoy playing against Patrick VieiraCredit: Times Newspapers Ltd
      Robbie Savage caused Paul Scholes problems on the pitchCredit: Times Newspapers Ltd More

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      Reading striker Andy Carroll reveals he regretted West Brom transfer ‘from the second day I was there’

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      ANDY CARROLL recently admitted he regretted his move to West Brom from his “second day there”.The Reading forward, 34, ditched the Royals last January for the Baggies – only to return this season.
      Andy Carroll has played 18 times for Reading this season, scoring four goalsCredit: Rex
      Carroll was recruited by ex-West Brom boss Valerien Ismael after an injury to striker Daryl Dike.
      Just one game later, however, Ismael was sacked – forcing the former England striker into a reunion with old Newcastle manager Steve Bruce.
      Speaking to Berkshire Live last month about his time at the Hawthorns, Carroll admitted: “To be honest, the second day I was there I regretted being there.”
      Carroll left West Brom after scoring three goals in 15 games, being released at the end of his short-term deal.
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      He was a free agent until September, when he penned a deal to return to Reading.
      Carroll then signed an extension earlier this month that will keep him at the club until the summer of 2024.
      The former England striker is now preparing for an FA Cup meeting against Manchester United, with a place in the fifth round at stake.
      But back in October, following Bruce’s West Brom sacking and ahead of their clash with the Baggies later that month, Carroll made a stunning dig at his old boss.
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      He said: “It’s always sad to see people get the sack.
      “Especially when we were guaranteed three points at the weekend. It is a shame but that’s football.
      “You don’t get the results, it’s a business at the end of the day.
      “That’s why you have to keep the lads together and work hard as a manager and get the lads working hard for you.”
      Carroll has played 18 times for the Royals this term, scoring four goals.
      Carroll, 34, played under Steve Bruce at Newcastle and West BromCredit: Getty – Contributor More

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      Man Utd icon Roy Keane admits he never warmed to Wayne Rooney and Rio Ferdinand and had a bust-up over watching X Factor

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      ROY KEANE revealed he never warmed to Wayne Rooney or Rio Ferdinand in the Manchester United dressing room.The former hardman said he did not get the England striker or team-mate Ferdinand’s banter – and did not miss them after he left Old Trafford.
      Manchester United legend Roy Keane claimed he never warmed to Wayne Rooney or Rio Ferdinand
      Keane, 51, reckoned he was not on the same wavelength as Roo, who is 14 years his junior.
      And that was highlighted during their playing days on a trip to Newcastle where the night before in the hotel Keane was watching rugby league on the TV before Rooney changed the channel to watch the X Factor and hid the remote control.
      Roo – who retired from playing to become permanent Derby manager two years ago – claimed later it led to an argument between the pair and Keane respected him for standing up to him.
      But Keane, speaking on Sky Sports’ The Football Show said: “We certainly didn’t have an argument, let me tell you.
      “I like my rugby league and yeah, someone did change the channel and I wasn’t happy.
      “But we didn’t have an argument about it. I came down for breakfast the next day and Wayne said ‘Did you find the control?’
      “So I told him where to go. If that’s an argument, God help us. I certainly didn’t respect Wayne because he stood up to me and wanted to watch the X Factor.
      “I had a lot of respect for Wayne because I thought he was a brilliant player.
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      “I wouldn’t say I warmed to the guy, I certainly didn’t dislike him. But the lad’s on a different wavelength, different banter and if hiding the control was his type of banter then… not for me.”
      Keane made 480 appearances for United in 12 years, but he said: “Near the end, I remember thinking I don’t get some of the boys.
      “I don’t get their banter or humour. I rarely had a conversation with anyone.
      “When I left there were a lot of players I didn’t miss. The game was changing and maybe I was a bit grumpy, a bit old school.
      “I didn’t get Wayne or Rio, I didn’t get their banter or what they stood for sometimes. It was probably a personal thing.
      “The game was changing and I had changed with it but towards the end at United with the players coming through I didn’t always get them.
      “Personality-wise they were not for me.
      “Obviously, they were very good players and I was delighted to play with them but in terms of banter or having a cup of coffee with them? No forget it.”
      Keane played with Rooney at Old Trafford between 2004-2005Credit: PA:Empics Sport
      Roy Keane reveals he once had a fight with Peter Schmeichel in a hotel – leaving Sir Alex Ferguson fuming More

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      Man Utd record holder looks like a new man with bushy beard and grey hair – but can you guess who it is?

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      A MANCHESTER United record holder looks like a new man as he embraces a bushy beard with long grey hair. The 90s Red Devils star, who played alongside the likes of Roy Keane, David Beckham and Gary Neville, has ditched the clean shaven look.
      This 90s United star looks quite different these daysCredit: @BanditBus
      He is rocking a bushy grey beard with long hairCredit: T&C EVENTS
      The ex-Man Utd man is a four-time Premier League winnerCredit: INSTAGRAM: CHOCCY.13
      The unrecognisable look gained mixed reactions from fans who remembered him during his heyday.
      The former forward enjoyed 11 trophy-laden years at Man Utd between 1987 and 1998.
      The ex-Scotland international won three FA Cups, four Premier League titles, the League Cup, the Uefa European Cup Winners Cup and the Super Cup.
      He has also scored more League Cup goals for Man Utd than any other player in the club’s history.
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      The man in question, Brian McClair, netted a remarkable 19 times in the competition, including the winner against Nottingham Forest in the 1992 final.
      The closest United player to that record is Mark Hughes with 16.
      Marcus Rashford and Ryan Giggs are tied in third on 12 each.
      McClair also enjoyed a spell at Aston Villa, where he started his career.
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      McClair was a popular figure at Old TraffordCredit: NEWS GROUP NEWSPAPERS
      The Scot won nine trophies at Man UtdCredit: NEWS GROUP NEWSPAPERS
      The 58-year-old also played for Motherwell and Celtic, winning a league title and the Scottish Cup.
      McClair speaks highly of former boss Sir Alex Ferguson.
      The Scot describes Ferguson as “hard, but fair”.
      Speaking to World Football Index, he said: “I wasn’t the most expensive signing in England but I was the most expensive for a player moving from a Scottish club to an English one which was a big thing at the time!
      “It has always been humbling that Alex Ferguson and Archie Knox wanted me to be one of their first signings for Manchester United.

      “Ferguson and Knox made me a much better player. Sir Alex was always hard, but fair with me, both as a player and a coach.
      “I have nothing but great memories of Manchester United and working with him. Those were great days.” More

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      Loan moves and the wrong mentality destroyed my form at Man Utd, but I rebuilt my career, says Federico Macheda

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      FEDERICO MACHEDA has admitted that loan moves and the wrong mentality prevented him from becoming a Manchester United star.Few have burst on to the scene like the Italian, who struck two winners in his first two games for the club.
      Federico Macheda struck a stunning winner past Aston Villa on his debutCredit: Getty – Contributor
      Sir Alex Ferguson rang the Italian in 2020 to check up on his progress
      A stunning injury-time effort against Aston Villa in April 2009 was followed up by a sharp finish at Sunderland a week later.
      Alas, the Italian failed to live up to his early promise and has opened up on his rise, fall, and rise again.
      After almost two years in the United set-up, he was sent on loan to Sampdoria for a spell that hammered his confidence.
      Macheda, 31, told the Mail: “Those six months marred my career because they tried to kill me as a footballer.
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      “I started to doubt myself a little bit.
      “We were fighting relegation and being attacked by people.
      “They thought because I was from Manchester United I was going to save them, but I wasn’t ready.
      “I was still a young guy. It wasn’t working and I wasn’t the one to make it work.”
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      The striker spent time at Queens Park Rangers, Stuttgart, Doncaster and Birmingham before leaving for Cardiff in 2014.
      A quiet stint in South Wales was followed by two years back in Italy before finding his feet with Panathinaikos.
      A record of 40 goals in 116 games for the Greek outfit was a very respectable return and Macheda acknowledged how tough it was to hit form again.
      He has since moved to Turkish Süper Lig club Ankaragücü, but is yet to score this season.
      He said: “It hasn’t been as good as I had hoped but I’ve learned a lot.
      “I’ve overcome a lot of things in my career.
      “Of course, I wish it could have gone another way, with the way it started and the way it was going.
      If I could go back, I wouldn’t swap. I wouldn’t change that moment… maybe it came too soonFederico Macheda
      “I was very down and I managed to turn things around and that isn’t easy in football, especially after the path I’ve had.
      “But if I could go back, I wouldn’t swap. I wouldn’t change that moment. Maybe it came too soon, but it’s something that every United fan will remember.”
      Nowadays, the shirt and a photo of his debut winner hang in the family home in Italy and Sir Alex Ferguson even called him up in 2020 to check on his former prodigy.
      Macheda has admitted that he perhaps was not well equipped to deal with the demanding life of a professional footballer.
      That Villa goal came at the tender age of 17 and he would fail to ‘understand’ what was needed when the going got tough.
      He said: “I think I could have done more.
      “I was working in an amazing team and I feel I let myself down. The whole picture, not just one thing.
      “The way of playing, looking after my body, my life.
      “The way of thinking, because when you don’t play you have to fight and I was finding excuses.
      “I had the wrong reaction and I wasn’t working as hard as I should have done.
      “When you’re young, you don’t understand many things. If I had the mentality I have now, things could have been much different for me.”
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      Macheda struck a second winner a week after the Villa win, this time at SunderlandCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
      The striker rebuilt his career at Greek club PanathinaikosCredit: Reuters
      However, after four years in Greece, he then moved to the Turkish side Ankaragucu.
      He failed to impress during his time there and was loaned to Cypriot outfit Apoel, the 12th different club in his career. More

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      Inside Gareth Bale’s stunning garden golf course based on legendary holes as he enters tournament days after retiring

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      GARETH BALE will be able to get plenty of practice in ahead of his PGA Tour debut – as he has a selection of iconic holes in his garden.The former footballer announced his retirement in January 2023 and 15 days later revealed he would be teeing off in a pro-am golf tournament.
      Gareth Bale is a keen golfer and has a brilliant set-up in his gardenCredit: Dugout
      Former Wales ace Bale often had golf on his mind during his careerCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      The 33-year-old signed up to join 156 amateurs and professionals, including Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald, US Open champion Matt Fitzpatrick and Patrick Cantlay, at Pebble Beach, California in early February.
      And he has the perfect set-up at home to get his eye in.
      The ex-Real Madrid ace’s stunning Welsh estate has a mini golf course, which he has been carefully sculpting over recent years.
      His chosen three holes were the 12th at Augusta, Royal Troon’s Postage Stamp and the tricky par-three 17th at Sawgrass.
      The 17th at Sawgrass is immediately recognisableCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      Gareth Bale’s estate in Wales has a mini course on redeveloped landCredit: Dugout
      Bale said: “As I moved here I had a lovely bit of land here and I had something I really wanted to do with it and decided that I would love to make a dream come true and build a mini golf course in my house.”From a plain piece of land to build what we have now it was a lot of hard work and a lot of craftsmanship.
      “It’s a lot better than I ever thought it could be and I’m just so happy I’ve got it here now and so happy that I chose Southwest Greens.”
      In 2015, keen golfer Bale helped Wales beat England, Ireland and Scotland in the Celebrity Cup at Celtic Manor.
      Bale revealed he would take part in a PGA Tour pro-am just weeks after retiring from footballCredit: Instagram @garethbale11
      The Welshman adores the game and gets in a round at every opportunityCredit: Getty – Contributor
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      He added: “I try to play as much golf as possible. In fact, I’m obsessed with it.
      “I’ve not really thought about what I’ll be doing in 20 years when I’m retired from football, but, hopefully, I will be playing golf.”
      Bale was frequently mocked during his time at the Bernabeu for prioritising Wales and golf over the famous Los Blancos.
      So much so that he even joined in holding up a famous banner declaring his passions were in that order.
      And at the World Cup in 2022, the Dragons captain had to ban himself from using the hotel golf simulator in case he got injured.
      But with his football boots now hung up after a brief stint in the MLS with Los Angeles, he can dedicate even more time to his beloved golf.
      Gareth Bale modelled his course on famous holesCredit: Dugout
      The world’s best golfers will be taking on the 12th hole at AugustaCredit: Getty – Contributor
      Gareth Bale has his own version in WalesCredit: Dugout
      The Postage Stamp is a tricky green to hitCredit: Alamy
      Bale has painstakingly recreated the famous holeCredit: Dugout More

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      Man Utd Treble winner unrecognisable as he wins MasterChef sporting flowing grey ponytail

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      A MANCHESTER UNITED treble winner looks completely unrecognisable decades on from his days at Old Trafford and is now a MasterChef winner.Sir Alex Ferguson led his Red Devils to the Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League in a remarkable fortnight nearly 24 years ago.
      The Man Utd legend won MasterChef in SwedenCredit: Instagram @jesperblomqvistofficial
      He beat TV personality Karl FredriksCredit: Instagram @jesperblomqvistofficial
      The names that immediately spring to mind from that side are the likes of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Teddy Sheringham, David Beckham, Roy Keane and Paul Scholes.
      But one man who many may have forgotten is a Swedish midfielder.
      He made 25 Premier League appearances in that momentous season and also collected an FA Cup winners medal despite being an unused substitute in the final.
      The ex-footie ace then started the Champions League final against Bayern Munich before being taken off for Teddy Sheringham – who would go on to score the equalising goal.
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      Shortly after United’s European triumph the Swede suffered a serious knee injury and never played for the club again.
      And Man Utd fans may find it incredibly difficult to recognise him these days as he looks completely different to when he was gracing the Old Trafford pitch more than two decades ago.
      The mystery footballer can be revealed as… Jesper Blomqvist.
      Blomqvist is rocking a ponytail, beard, and does not possess the vibrant blonde hair he once had as a player.
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      Blomqvist was a part of United’s legendary Treble-winning teamCredit: Reuters
      Ferguson signed him from Parma ahead of the 1998-99 campaignCredit: PA:Press Association
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      MasterChef? No problem.
      The footie star-turned-cook won the competition beating TV personality Karl Fredriks.
      On his win, he said on Instagram: “What a lovely competitor I had on the other side of the kitchen table in @karlfredrik.se and what an exciting final it was.
      “Even though I knew the result, I got all sweaty watching it on TV.
      “Incredibly happy, grateful and humble for the win, know that you Karl-Fredrik might as well have won, it was an incredibly tough & even final.
      “The whole production has been amazingly funny, educational but also tough.
      “Then it helps to have such awesome competitors, jury members and the rest of the recording team who supports, pepper and spurs 🙏💪🙌 thank you all for a wonderful adventure🙏❤️🙏❤️.”
      What’s more, after a brief attempt at management, he found a new passion as he runs his own pizzeria.
      Speaking to The Telegraph about his new life previously, he said: “I have to say it is tough when people ask me in the beginning, ‘What are you doing?’ And I say, ‘I have a pizzeria’. It was tough that people look down at you.
      “Then I have to explain it’s the best pizzeria! Now I don’t care. People seem to be saying, ‘Are you down there? Have you lost all your money?’ I couldn’t care less.
      “I can understand it and feel it myself. It’s not a problem. It’s just me who has to work with myself. Footballers have been very spoiled. It’s very easy to lose perspective and to get carried away and this money can destroy players.
      “It’s the way it is, you have to learn to handle it and it’s difficult. I am so happy I was brought up in the north of Sweden where you keep your feet on the ground and you have to work hard.”
      Blomqvist, 48, also explained why he decided to pack in management after just two years – where he coached Swedish sides Enkoping and Hammarby IF.
      “Putting the team in front and not taking into consideration the human being behind the player – for me, that was the toughest challenge,” he added.
      “I tend to look more at the human being. Ferguson was good at that. When it comes to winning games you can’t care about the human being.
      “You have to be ruthless and sometimes I missed that. That’s my nature and it is hard to change.”
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      Blomqvist was back in a United shirt last summer.
      He joined up with several other familiar names to line-up for Man Utd Legends against their Liverpool counterparts – but they suffered a 3-1 defeat to the Reds.
      He now has his own pizzeria having gone into the industry after a brief stint managing in football
      The ex-footie star now looks a much-changed man years on from that iconic Man Utd seasonCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      Here he is with fellow ex-Man Utd player Mikael SilvestreCredit: Instagram @jesperblomqvistofficial More

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      Ultimate combined XI from Wenger’s Arsenal Invincibles and Man Utd’s 2008 Champions League-winning heroes

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      ARSENAL welcome Manchester United to the Emirates this weekend with both in the race for the Premier League title.The Gunners are sat top of the Premier League after 18 games, picking up 47 points.
      Arsenal’s Invincibles achieved legendary status back in 2004Credit: Getty
      Manchester United’s 2008 Champions League-winning squad was stacked with qualityCredit: PA
      Here’s the best combined XI that we have chosen
      Both Manchester clubs are trailing by eight points, but United can close the gap to five with a win on Sunday.
      During the heyday of Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger, the two teams would be regularly battling it out for the Prem title.
      In fact, for nine consecutive years from 1996 the trophy belonged exclusively to the both of them.
      Arsenal won it for the first time under Wenger in 1998 and lifted it another two times under the Frenchman.
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      But undoubtedly their greatest – and last – title-winning campaign occurred in 2004.
      With Thierry Henry leading their star-studded side, the Gunners incredibly went the whole campaign unbeaten, leading to them being dubbed ‘The Invincibles’ by fans and pundits.
      However, one thing they failed to do under Wenger was conquer Europe.
      They did manage to reach the 2006 Champions League final, but they suffered defeat to Barcelona.
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      But Fergie did manage to win it twice during his long-stay at Old Trafford, the first occurring in the 1999 treble season.
      He followed that up with success over Chelsea in the 2008 final after a dramatic penalty shoot-out.
      Both Arsenal’s Invincibles and United’s Champions League winning squad from ‘08 were stacked with quality.
      But ahead of the latest Arsenal vs Man Utd clash at the Emirates, we decided to try and pick an XI out of both sets of players from those eras.
      Jens Lehmann was in goal for Arsenal, but we’ve opted for United’s Dutchman Edwin van der Sar.
      Ashley Cole gets the nod over Patrice Evra at left-back, while his former Gunners team-mate Lauren is in on the right.
      An all-English centre-back pairing of Sol Campbell and Rio Ferdinand would take some stopping, especially with ex-Arsenal captain Patrick Vieira protecting them in midfield.
      With United legend Paul Scholes alongside him, there would also be plenty of ammunition for the vast array of attacking talents.
      Robert Pires was almost unstoppable for the Gunners back then, and he is almost impossible to leave out – despite the greatness of Ryan Giggs.
      You also have to find a way to fit in Cristiano Ronaldo, and as he was playing winger back then rather than forward, we’ve squeezed him in on the right.
      Then it comes to picking the forwards and we feel almost guilty for leaving out Arsenal’s fantastic Dutchman Dennis Bergkamp.
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      The same can be said of United’s 2008 hero Carlos Tevez – but Wayne Rooney just edges it to line-up with Henry up front.
      And whether you agree or not, we reckon even the second-string that we have assembled below would still be big favourites to win the league if they were together in their pomp. 
      This second string would still mount a serious title challenge More