Next Generation | ”We’d never seen anyone like Cristiano Ronaldo”

In the final episode of the series, Nicky Butt and Paul Scholes look at some of the key players in the later years of the Fergie era.

They remember the first time they came up against Cristiano Ronaldo and why he used to frustrate his team-mates, how Scholesey helped persuade Wayne Rooney to sign and why it all kicked off between Patrice Evra and some of the ground staff at Chelsea.

As well as players who became legends, they look at one or two who didn't live up to expectations, why it never worked out for them and how harshly players could be judged from day one at United.

They also discuss the current squad and ask who are the leaders and whether there's too much pressure on the likes of Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo. Nicky and Paul recall the final years of their careers: why did Newcastle go down when Nicky was there? What convinced Scholesey to retire for good? And what do they miss most about football?

Email: ⁠footballsgreatest@foldingpocket.co.uk⁠

Follow Football's Greatest and join in the debate:

YouTube: ⁠www.youtube.com/@footballsgreatestpod⁠
Instagram: ⁠www.instagram.com/footballsgreatestpod⁠
X/Twitter: ⁠www.twitter.com/ftblsgreatest⁠
TikTok: ⁠www.tiktok.com/@footballsgreatestpod⁠
Facebook: ⁠www.facebook.com/footballsgreatestpod⁠

Football's Greatest is a Folding Pocket production with BBC Studios.

Cover artwork by Stanley Chow: ⁠http://www.stanleychow.co.uk

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices