There seems no end to Manchester United and Alex Ferguson's woes at the moment. Just a few days after their total annihiliation by Barcelona, a player that epitomises United's tradition has hung up his boots. Ferguson knows really that the time would come, but it feels horrible watching a son leave you, without coming back. It feels like death. The only consolation is that Scholes would remain in United's coaching staff.
I must admit I've never read a thing on the 'paper about Scholes, that has nothing to do with football. That tells all about him. While most people would credit it to Ferguson, who knocks every of his players to near-morality, it also takes one who shies away, rather than loathes, controversy and the limelight, to achieve this.
We must pay tribute to a man who gave his all while putting on the jersey. His all-action style is much more admirable, considering he's asthmatic.
He says he retired because he felt ''it's the right time''. We would debate about that for long.