Scholes Targets Historic Title

Reds veteran Paul Scholes tells us why United have the edge in the championship race...

This is the business end of the season. Do you enjoy the pressure?
Yeah, the title run-in is always exciting and it’s obviously better if you’re one of the teams involved. And this season we’re definitely in with a shout. We always say it’s important to put yourselves in a position where you’re in with a chance of winning the league, even if you’re not leading from the front. If you can be there or thereabouts then that’s good enough because anything can happen in the run-in. We’re in that position, so now it’s a case of kicking on and winning games.

Does the opportunity to make history appeal to you?
It would be great. Three titles in a row was a big achievement and now we want to go one step further. But the chance to make history doesn’t drive me - that’s not what’s in the back of my mind when I walk out onto the pitch. I just want to win every game and hopefully win every trophy, whether it’s the first time I’ve won it or the 10th time. The aim each year is to win the league. If that means making history then terrific - if not, so be it.

What gives United the edge over other teams in the title race?
I’d like to think we’ve got the right players, ones who have been there before and know how tough it is to win the league. The game against Chelsea is going to be massive and we know we need to win it. But that’s not the only important game. If we want to win the league we’re going to have to win every game. It'll be tough but I’m sure we can do it.

Why do you think United have done well against Chelsea at home recently?
I’m not sure. You’re right, though: for whatever reason, we’ve had some good results against Chelsea at Old Trafford in recent seasons. Away from home we’ve struggled a little at Stamford Bridge but with the United fans behind us we’ve managed to get the better of them. This match is going to be crucial because there’s such a big prize up for grabs and this could have a big impact on the title race. But every game’s important - the teams at the bottom are fighting for survival and we need to make sure we beat them as well.

All the talk has been about United and Chelsea, but what about Arsenal?
You can’t rule out Arsenal, especially with the run-in they’ve got. They’ve played all the top teams twice already, so they’ll be confident of putting together a good run of results. But the bottom line is that if we win all our matches we’ll win the league.

We play City again in April. How do you rate this season’s derbies so far?
That first one, the 4-3 at Old Trafford, was unbelievable. I think City only had three shots and scored three goals. Meanwhile, we had about 25 chances but only ended up winning the game in the last minute of injury time. That was an amazing game, and the Carling Cup semi-final wasn’t too bad either. We all enjoyed that win a lot – when you’re playing your local rivals it’s always nice to win, but it was also the semi-final of the Carling Cup and there was a spot at Wembley up for grabs. As for the game in April, it’s definitely going to be difficult, especially given we lost there in the first leg of the Carling Cup semi-final, but we believe we’re strong enough to go there and get all three points.

Can City now be considered genuine trophy challengers?
Well, they weren’t far off in the Carling Cup – they got to the semi-final – and it looks like they might be fighting for fourth place in the league. That’s definitely an improvement for them and if they continue to spend money at the rate they have done then I think in the next few years they’ll definitely start challenging for trophies.

How much an edge will your title-winning experience give you?
To be honest, it can work both ways. If you’ve never won the league then you’re desperate to win it. On the flip side, once you start winning trophies you don’t want to stop. And maybe that experience will help us, maybe we know what it takes to win the league. But every season’s different and throws up new twists and new challenges – all we can do is hope we react to those challenges in the right way.

How would you assess your own season?
It’s difficult for me to say. You go through spells when you’re playing a lot and then you have periods when you’re in and out of the side. It can be difficult to build up momentum but that’s something we’ve all had to get used to in recent years. Everyone wants to play every week and it certainly helps you if you have a little run in the side, but that’s not always possible. You just have to make sure you’re ready when the boss calls upon you.

Do you ever wish you'd tested yourself in another league?
Not at all. I’ve achieved everything I could have wanted by playing at United. And I’ve always viewed that, playing here, as a fantastic achievement for me. Growing up I never imagined I could play for the club, but thankfully I've been lucky enough to do it. I’m also lucky that I’ve played in good teams over the years that have won trophies. I’ve never seen a reason to change any of that.

Team-mates often name you as their favourite player in training. Who's yours?
I’d have to say Ryan Giggs. He does something every day that takes your breath away, whether it’s scoring a goal or taking somebody on. He’s great to watch and play with.

Ryan’s longevity is often attributed to yoga classes. What’s your secret?
I don’t think there is a secret. I just try to live as healthily as I can, eat the right things, make sure I’m training hard at the right time and also resting at the right time. The coaches here at United are great and they often let you dictate how much you do in training. If it’s a day or two after a big game and you’re feeling a little stiff then you might take things a little easier. As you get older you get to know what’s best for your own body so you have a good idea of when you need to work hard and when you need to rest.

Have you ever joined Ryan for a yoga class?
No [laughs]. I don’t think that’s for me.