Paul Scholes recalls 'embarrassing' celebrations after 1999 Champions League triumph
By Tom Gott
Manchester United legend Paul Scholes has revealed just how much he hated celebrating his side's Champions League triumph in 1999 because he didn't actually play in the game.
Scholes was a regular part of the United team at the time but picked up a yellow card in the second leg of the semi-final against Juventus which saw him ruled out of the final because of an accumulation of yellow cards.
The midfielder joined Roy Keane on the sidelines, with the pair both wearing suits as they came on to the field to celebrate with their United team-mates, but Scholes has admitted that he felt as though he did not deserve the glory.
"You don't feel part of it one bit," he told BT Sport's What I Wore. "Some people say that's strange because you played a part of the 15-16 games to get to where you are but you're in the stands and have no control over the game. There is nothing you can do influence that game of football."
He continued: "We went on the pitch at the end but you're embarrassed. It's embarrassing, honestly."
Scholes also admitted that he remembers the feeling of realising he would be suspended just as well as he remembers lifting the trophy.
"It's football," he continued. "Roy [Keane] was a big loss, but it's football.
"It wasn't a bad tackle and I can hear [Didier] Deschamps screaming now trying to get me booked. They were clever but it was my own fault.
"You know straight away [that you're suspended] and you're sad, you're upset, of course you are, not to be part of the selection for the biggest game of our lives but you get on with it."