Should Paul Scholes be guaranteed a starting place in the Champions League final?

Paul Scholes fired Manchester United into the final of the Champions League for the first time since 1999, the ginger-haired midfielder producing a shot of rare quality to decide the two-legged tie with Barcelona, smashing a viciously-curling long-range shot past the helpless Barca goalkeeper, Victor Valdes.

United won the competition the last time they got past the semi-final stage, but that memorable comeback against Bayern Munich - where they trailed in the very last minute but won without the need for extra time - is not one that Scholes would care to remember too fondly.

He had to sit on the sidelines and watch, having been booked in the semi-finals which ruled him out of the main event through suspension. United had a special medal minted for him after the match, but has never accepted it as the genuine article.

How fitting, therefore, that he should be the one to score the winning goal against Barcelona. A date with destiny, you might say.

Sir Alex Ferguson has said the former England midfielder will be the first name on his teamsheet for the match in Moscow on May 21 as a reward for his years of loyal service to the club. But do you agree, should Fergie not pick his starting XI purely on merit, or is there still a place for sentiment in football at the highest level?

Please vote below and we would welcome you leaving us your comments at the bottom of this post.

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Comments

[JVS]

I read the comment from EHC with interest.... sad that a Pool fan can't see the benefits of attacking artistry on the football field but then their plodding style has been the mark of their descent into mid table torpour: that they have succeeded in Europe of late has delighted many but shocked most and in particular has been a tribute to the concept of endeavour over style..... how Mr Paisley must be spinning. Did you know that you cannot buy Sunny Dee anywhere in London SW16 ?

[barry1858]

Those in favour of Scholes starting are not thinking of the recent past. Let's face it Barca were not nearly as troublesome as Blackburn, Middlesboro,Portsmouth or Manchester City to United in recent times, and Scholes was found wanting in all of those games because they were energetic and combative. The same could be the case for the last three matches of our season and sentiment should definitely not come in to first team selection at this crucial time. Anderson is already the one to start on merit and recent application.

[John Irvine]

As far as the final is concerned it is dissapointing that man united have got through because no doubt we can look forward to a negative, backs to the wall game where they will hope to nick a goal as the did in this semi final and also in the final against Bayern Munich when the Greman team deserved to win.

[kisenyi]

Scholes gives both impetus going forward and mature stability in holding the ball. Obviously tackling is not included here! An excellent game reader like no other, he creates, scores and whats more, defends! And because he coys away from the media and the flashy ways, he even gives the confidence that all he goes on the pitch to do is play ball. I would play him ahead of any current midfilder in the Devils' squad in a game such as the finals, I mean I would start him. It would not make much sense for him to be a sub at his age except if you were leading such as we were at Derby in the first round!
And I agree teams are built on pedigree and with this I can't see much difference with sentiment. I would play him for both reasons but for the finals I would start him because he is as good as any if not better

[Barrie Collins]

Scholes is a dangerous hacker, albeit with a great shot from distance; always has been as SAF either can't, or doesn't want to, coach it out of him. His main value to the club is that opponents are worried about getting their legs broken when he's around. Ferguson loves this kind of player, as witness Keane, Butt, the Nevilles, etc., etc., over the years.

[EHC]

Extraordinary. Two top European teams. Team A wins because its sole shot on target went in. Team B loses beacuse they were not very good. I cannot remember a move of any quality or even one that led to anything worth remembering. My good friend insists that my support was welcome....but then what is a 'pool supporter to do on a wet Tuesday night...in Streatham.

[Micky]

No one can fault him starting. He hasn't played a bad match since he returned from injury. He played well against Barcelona. He deserves his spot on the podium with red ticker tape flowing around as United hold up the European Cup.

My line up would be
Van Der Sar
Evra Vidic Ferdinand Brown
Nani Scholes Carrick Ronaldo
Rooney Tevez
bench: Giggs, Park, Kuszsczak, Anderson, Fletcher, O'Shea, silvestre.

If you went for Nostalgia, you would pick Gary Neville. He, like Giggs and Scholes, deserves another European Cup.

[Sean]

Scholes was our best player in Barcelona, and scored the winner yesterday. He's proved that, more than any other United player, he is a player for the big occasion. He has earned the right to be in that starting line-up. The fact that he'll finally get the chance to play in the Champions' League Final after missing out 9 years ago is just a happy coincidence.

[Rob Cieka]

There's obviously sentiment involved but if he was a crap player, there is no way Fergie would pick him.

[David]

Uganda says "VIVA GINGER PRINCE". He surely deserves not on starting the game but win in Moscow

[chris]

i'll see rooney in Champions League final

[Si Clayton]

Sentiment or not Scholes still has been our best central midfielder since Charlton. He showed his age towards the end of the game last night, but against Chelsea/Liverpool in the final the game wont be as stretched so a full 90min is well within his capabilites.

[stuart]

scholes is a legend and if he's good enough to play in thr starting line up for the semi final why wouldnt he deserve a place in the final?

[barry1858]

There has been no better player than Scholes at United in the last 20 years, but he is now long in the tooth and showing it ( although not as much as Giggs). When he starts games now he paces himself and in the games where the midfield has been very combative, he has been prone to giving the ball away and is slow to recover. Carrick constantly defers to Scholes which reduces his effectiveness, slowing down the process of turning defence into attack, and it's United's counter-attacking prowess which sets them apart. Possession can be meaningless without an end result, as we saw with Barca last night. I would always start with Anderson, and keep Scholes to come on with half an hour to go. A final against Liverpool would be harder than Barca and even harder against Chelsea, so there is no room for sentiment in insisting that Scholes starts. Hargreaves has shown he's the best right back and so United's best starting line-up now is V d Sar,
Evra,Vidic,Rio,Hargreaves,Nani,
Anderson,Carrick,Ronaldo, Rooney,
Tevez with Subs Scholes, Giggs, Saha, Brown, Kuszczak, O'Shea, Eagles. This first team would win the last three games comfortably. Here's hoping...

[JVS]

On the basis of last night's performance, never mind 10 + years of midfield service in the country's most successful club side, Scholes could get a place in any premiership side.

[Harry]

Scholes is fully deserving of a place in the starting XI. If anyone chooses a first XI from a full squad of fit players Scholes' name in on there straight away, along side Anderson or Carrick in midfield. He's a genius of a footballer who has maximised his talents time and time again. For someone who "isn't fast, isn't strong and can't tackle", he's made the cynics eat their words year in, year out. A supremely talented individual, he's an asdset to the game itself and the club.

Red legend, Scholes is a true great. Roll on Moscow and another Scholes wonder-goal.........

[Neil]

Paul Scholes deserves a place in the team on merit - without question. He was united's best midfielder last night and still their most effective player when it matters (Ronaldo had another quiet big game). He is the best English footballer of the last 25 years. The fact that he has had so few personal accolades is a sad reflection of our game's obsession with flash celebrities. For the perfect illustration of this, look at the reaction to his retirement from international football, compared to that of his less talented former colleague, David Beckham's.

[giorgio]

United without Scholes is a man without a leg...

[Ollie M]

He was certainly our best player at the Camp Nou, and was supreme in possession at OT as well. This discussion is entirely moot as he should be in the team on merit.
And I really hope there's room in football for a little bit of sentiment. Nothing wrong with looking to the past. How many pieces have been written by your journalists on the 'Greatest Ever...' or the 'Most Exciting...' all of which have been tinged with sentimentality and nostalgia.
However, it's certainly not the deciding factor: Giggs should definitely be eased out of the team.