Paul Scholes needed no persuading to extend his career
by another season after admitting he handled his initial retirement
badly.
The 37-year-old called time on his stellar career following the
2011 Champions League final defeat to Barcelona at Wembley.
Six months later, he was turning out for Manchester United in
their FA Cup third round tie at Manchester City, having asked Sir
Alex Ferguson if he could make the most dramatic of comebacks.
Scholes has since signed on for another season, which Ferguson
does expect to be the former England midfielder's last.
It was not that Scholes thought his first decision was
necessarily wrong.
More than by accepting a coaching role, he was forced to watch
old team-mates train every day at Carrington, which meant his own
desire to play never completely went away.
"I was all right for the first couple of months after retiring
and didn't really miss anything," Scholes told reporters on
Manchester United's recent pre-season tour of South Africa.
"But once I got back into going to Carrington and coaching the
reserves, as well as being with the lads, it was difficult,
especially when there were so many injuries to the team.
"If I'd stayed away from the reserves and the club I'd probably
have been OK. But every day that I was going in I just wanted to
train and be involved.
"The manager didn't have to twist my arm to play this
season."
Scholes had a positive impact too, so much so that it was
suggested he might earn a shock call-up to Roy Hodgson's Euro 2012
squad, eight years after his last international.
In the end, Hodgson never even made the call, which is a shame,
because Scholes might just have said yes.
"I wasn't offered the chance," said Scholes.
"It was flattering to be talked about. But I wasn't asked, so it
means nothing."
Ferguson was doubtless pleased Hodgson kept his mouth shut as it
meant Scholes was one of the few senior figures within the United
squad who was available for the entire pre-season campaign.
Scholes wanted to get back too, after spending the summer
reflecting on what might have been after that out-of-character
late-season collapse that gifted the Barclays Premier League to
Manchester City.
"It's always a motivating force when you lose the league," he
said.
"It's not nice to see another team celebrate winning the title
on the last day of the season. That picture stays with you."
