Carrick buzzing to reunite with Rooney and Scholes

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Carrick buzzing to reunite with Rooney and Scholes

Friday 06 September 2024 16:00

On Saturday, Old Trafford will witness not just the return of United’s greatest-ever goalscorer, Wayne Rooney, but also the reunification of one of the club’s all-time great midfield partnerships.

Both Michael Carrick and Paul Scholes have signed up for this weekend’s Legends fixture, which pits United against a Celtic side led by Champions League winner Paul Lambert.

The pair were integral to Sir Alex Ferguson’s final great Reds side, which picked up five Premier League titles between 2007 and 2013. And the pass meisters also both started the 2008 Champions League final in Moscow, which culminated in the club’s third Champions League success.

Carrick is now the manager of Middlesbrough but, given there are no Championship fixtures this weekend, the 43-year-old has snapped up the opportunity to pull on the shirt once again.

Earlier this month, he told United Review that the chance to collaborate with Scholes – 11 years after their final game together – was just too good to turn down.

“In one way, it feels like a lifetime ago since I played,” said the midfield great. “But, on the other side of things, it feels like it was yesterday – my head feels like it was yesterday, but my body doesn’t!

“I’m really excited for the game and to see the boys again. It’ll be great to see Scholesy and play alongside him again. He’s one of the best players who has ever played the game. I had the pleasure of playing so long next to him and learning so much from him. I had the best seat in the house and was just a privileged spectator at times!”

Carrick and Scholes boast almost 1,2000 first-team appearances between them, but Carrick also carved a special relationship with centre-forward Rooney, with whom he lifted every major trophy at United.

“I played with Wayne from, pretty much, the start to finish of our United careers and it’ll be nice to get back on the pitch with him again,” said Carras.

“Just to be back in the changing room, back with the boys and back out on the pitch again, it’ll be special. We all shared a good relationship and some great times.

“These games are great and anything can happen. I wouldn’t picture myself getting on the scoresheet or even running fast enough to get in their box – I’ll leave that to somebody else, maybe Wazza!”

Dimitar Berbatov and Darren Fletcher are among the other high-profile Reds poised to return to the hallowed turf against the Hoops – and tickets are still available for Saturday’s 14:00 BST kick-off.

All proceeds will go towards supporting the work of Manchester United Foundation – a cause Carrick feels particularly strongly about.

“Ever since I first got to United in 2006, Manchester United Foundation had a big impact on me and I was keen to help and do as much as I possibly could,” admits the Geordie.

“Over the years, we built a really good relationship with each other, so to be in the position now with my own Foundation where we work together, alongside each other, with Street Reds and in a generally ongoing relationship, is something that’s really nice to have and something that I don’t take for granted at all.

“A lot of good work goes on between us, so any part I can play in supporting the Foundation, the better. They do terrific work all around the world and, over the years, it has been a privilege to help in any way that I can.”

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Friday 06 September 2024 16:00