Date published: Thursday 21st March 2019 11:54
Jonathan Spector thinks Paul Scholes is the best team-mate he played with during his time at Manchester United, despite being in a squad with Cristiano Ronaldo.
The former United States international was signed by United from Chicago Fire in 2003 before only making eight appearances at the club.
He left the Red Devils to join West Ham in 2006 but still has some fond memories of Old Trafford, picking out Scholes as the best player he played with.
“I have also been incredibly fortunate to play with some of the best players who have ever played the game — and to learn from them,” Spector said.
“It would be easy to say the best was Cristiano Ronaldo but, to be honest, I’d have to say Paul Scholes.”
Spector, who has just joined Scottish side Hibernian, made his debut for United’s reserve team in 2003 and the 33-year-old has revealed Sir Alex Ferguson’s brutal reaction to his first performance in a United shirt.
“Sir Alex Ferguson and Roy Keane were blunt, they were honest and those were things I respected,” Spector added.
“I played in a reserve game at Middlesbrough, and it’s fair to say I had a poor game.
“I was back in with the first team that weekend but I didn’t even make the bench and the manager pulled me aside after his team-talk.
“He said ‘Spector — you were absolutely useless the other night’.
“That was it. There was no hairdryer. I was like, ‘Yeah, I know. It won’t happen again boss’.
“He knew how to get the best out of each individual.
“He didn’t treat everyone exactly the same. Even at his age, he was able to relate to me and understand me as a person.”
