Paul Scholes reveals Sir Bobby Charlton joined Manchester United players in training at the age of 61 ahead of their Champions League clash against Barcelona in 1999
- Paul Scholes says Sir Bobby Charlton joined in training before 1999 final
- Former United midfielder believes that Sir Bobby ‘symbolised the club’
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Former Manchester United favourite Paul Scholes has suggested that Sir Bobby Charlton ‘symbolised the football club’ following his passing at the age of 86 on Saturday.
Scholes, who was speaking before United paid tribute to Sir Bobby ahead of their Champions League tie against FC Copenhagen, remembered the 1966 World Cup winner as a constant presence at Old Trafford throughout his time as a player.
Two-time Champions League winner Scholes even revealed that the club legend got involved in a training session ahead of a Champions League tie against Barcelona.
He said on TNT Sports: ‘The night before we played in the Nou Camp he actually joined in training with us. I think somebody said he was 61 years of age. You look back and you realise how lucky you were to be involved with such a man.
‘When you’re brought up at this football club you’re taught to have class whether you win or lose and that was Sir Bobby Charlton. When you see him in the dressing room he’s commiserating you if you got beaten. He’s congratulating you if you’ve won a game.
Paul Scholes told TNT Sport that Sir Bobby Charlton joined in a training session with the Man United squad before a Champions League tie against Barcelona
Scholes added that Sir Bobby ‘symbolised the football club’ and was someone ‘you looked up to and were happy to have around’
‘The man just symbolised this football club, he was a picture of class you looked up to that we were happy to have around.’
Sir Bobby made 758 appearances for United throughout a stellar career that also saw him earn 106 caps for England.
He won the 1966 World Cup alongside older brother Jack, and was a leading light for both club and country after surviving the 1958 Munich Air Disaster.
United’s pre-match tribute to one of their greatest-ever players involved Erik ten Hag laying a wreath on the Old Trafford pitch alongside Sir Bobby’s former team-mate Alex Stepney.
Fellow TNT pundit Rio Ferdinand said: ‘He was just a fantastic human being first and foremost. A wonderful football player but the way that he carried himself as a human being was the thing that stood out for me above everything.
‘The football club ran through his veins. We used to sometimes stand there and think “how is he still here?” He just loved this football club like not many I’ve ever seen before.’
Scholes added: ‘He was a wonderful, wonderful man. It was sad day when we found out the news but I think if you look at all the tributes around the world – the first player that comes to your mind when you think about Man United is Sir Bobby Charlton.
Sir Bobby made 758 appearances for United as a player and was part of the England side that won the 1966 World Cup
United paid tribute to Sir Bobby ahead of their Champions League game against Copenhagen
Both sets of players observed a minutes silence in memory of United great Sir Bobby
‘To go through what he went through with the tragedy of Munich and then to go on to win the European Cup and the World Cup – it’s just a really sad evening tonight and let’s just hope we get through it.’
Ten Hag and his squad wrote personal messages in memory of Charlton at their Carrington training ground, which will be added to a book of condolence that has been opened at Old Trafford.
More than a thousand fans signed the book within a day of his death being announced as supporters flocked to Old Trafford to pay their respects.
United plan to further commemorate Sir Bobby at Sunday’s game against Man City when they will hold a minute’s applause and show expressions of fan remembrance with flags and surfer banners in the stadium.
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