Scholes Hoping for Explosive Return

By Chris O'Brien
May 3 2004

United midfielder Paul Scholes returns from suspension this Saturday for the visit of Chelsea to Old Trafford. The England international hopes to deliver a top class performance to help end United's run of defeats, and keep the runners-up spot a possibility.

Manchester United midfielder Paul Scholes returns from suspension on Saturday for United's penultimate league game of the season, as Chelsea visit Old Trafford.

Three defeats in our last four Premiership outings have all but finished hopes of finishing second in the table, which would mean the club automatically qualified for the finals of next seasons European Cup. Chelsea took full advantage of United's defeat at Ewood Park on Saturday with 4-0 demolition job over Southampton, to propel themselves 4 points ahead of Sir Alex Ferguson's side in the runners-up slot.

England international Scholes has missed United's last 3 Premiership matches, which included defeats against Lancastrian rivals Liverpool and Blackburn Rovers, but is determined to return with a bang on the weekend and help put an end to the Red Devils' recent poor form with victory over Claudio Ranieri's Champions League hopefuls, who face their second-leg European Cup semi-final with Monaco on Wednesday.

"We need to get some form together going into the cup final and we want to finish second as well if we can," he said.

"That will give us a bit of confidence going to Cardiff. That is what we are hopeful of doing but we know Chelsea are going to be difficult and Aston Villa as well in the last game.

"We don't want the gap behind Arsenal to be too big. They have already won the league but we want to win our remaining games and get as close to them as we can."

United need three points to have any chance of snatching second place from under the noses of Chelsea, but ending the losing run is just as important ahead of the F.A Cup final against Millwall on May 22nd. Supporters are obviously disappointed this season with United failing to hold down a title challenge and suffering another early exit in Europe, but a Cup triumph would work as a tonic.

"You can't just turn it on when it is the cup final. You need to be going into it with two or three wins behind you and playing well and if we are not doing that then the FA Cup final could be a struggle." added Scholes.