It takes nerve to confront Sir Alex even for one of his most trusted soldiers. But Scholes, gathering every ounce of courage that he could muster, decided to do the unthinkable.
"I actually still put up the courage, I thought, I'm still going to go," he said. "I think I said something like, I think I deserve more money, or I want to be on more money. What am I doing? Just looking at him."
Then came the moment etched forever in his memory. “He pulled out that little black book he always had,” Scholes continued. "You remember the little black book he has? So, he's flicking through the pages for like five minutes. 'No, I think you're all right. I think you're level with everyone. It's fine.' That was it. 'I think what you're on is good, yeah. All right, thanks. See you later.' Jeez. That is the worst. That's my biggest regret in football, doing that."
No debate, no argument with Sir Alex. Just an icy dismissal that left Scholes wanting the ground to swallow him whole.