Wednesday Apr 30 2008 07:45
Sir Alex Ferguson hailed matchwinner Paul Scholes and promised the veteran midfielder a place in the starting line-up for the Champions League Final after his Barcelona heroics.
Scholes secured United's first return to the final since 1999 with a stunning 25-yard strike in a 1-0 semi-final second leg and aggregate victory over Barcelona on Tuesday night.
The 32-year-old missed United's victory in the final in Barcelona nine years ago through suspension, but will definitely play in the first all-English showpiece in Moscow against either Chelsea or Liverpool.
"It is great for Paul to be in the final," said Ferguson. "It was a fantastic goal.
"I don't think you can expect him to score 10 or 15 goals a season like he used to.
"But when he gets one like that it makes up for the ones he can't score. It is a marvellous moment for him.
"He's one of the great players to come through the ranks here."
Meanwhile, Ferguson admitted his side had to survive a nervous second half to book their place in the final.
"We needed a fantastic performance and we got one," he continued.
"I knew it was going to be a long night but I felt we could have scored three or four in the first half.
"It was a bit nervy in the second because they had to have a go at 1-0 down.
"But we got through that spell and, in the last 15 minutes, I didn't think they made any chances.
"It was emotional at the end but you expect that at a semi-final. The important thing is that we are there and we deserve to be there."
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