Scholes Earns The Plaudits

Last updated : 30 April 2008 By Sam
The United midfielder scored the only goal of the 2nd leg tie at Old Trafford on Tuesday night to set up an all-English final meeting with either Chelsea or Liverpool in Moscow in three weeks time.

"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.

"We needed a fantastic performance and we got one," the United manager added.

"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."