Paul Scholes has confessed that it was a mistake for him to extend his Manchester United career into another year in 2012.
Scholes is a United legend, having helped the club win 11 Premier League titles and two Champions League trophies during a 20-year playing career spent at one club
His United career is split into two parts – an initial spell from 1993 to 2011 and a second brief stint from 2012 to 2013.
“It was a mistake to carry on. A mistake,” the 47-year-old said on BT Sport’s ‘What I Wore’ series.
“I can remember two or three games into that next season I thought ‘what have I done?’
When I played central midfield I like to go into games thinking ‘I just want to have all the time in the world here, just nobody around me, just find a little bit of space and pass the ball around.
“Then you play against people like Robbie Savage – an absolute nuisance, trying to close you down dead quick. I don’t want that, I just want it nice and relaxed.
“The way I played I didn’t have to beat people or be stronger, quicker than the other person.
“I suppose Patrick Vieira, you play against him, he is so long, he is so big. You think you’ve got the ball, and the next minute he nicks it over your head, he was a clever player.
Scholes made eight starts and eight substitute appearances in the 2012/13 season for United as they avenged the previous year’s hurt by beating rivals City to the title.