Former Manchester United midfielder Paul Scholes has stated that he was not a bad tackler, and when he committed a foul he was simply 'getting his own back' against an opponent who had done the same to him.

The ex-England international had a reputation for being heavy handed in attempts to dispossess the opposition, but has stated that he was simply exacting revenge.

"Of course I can tackle. There's plenty of evidence of being able to tackle. I was just getting people back. If someone got me early in the game it was always in the back of my mind that I needed to get them back," he told Radio Five Live.

"I didn't always do it on purpose, some of it was just bad timing, I suppose.

"But I think throughout my career the record wasn't that bad, there were not that many yellow cards. Well, I suppose a few yellow cards, but not many sendings-off. But I think towards the end every time I made one tackle I got booked, because of my reputation I suppose," he concluded.

United have not filled the hole left by Scholes' retirement, and Sir Alex Ferguson is still thought to be keen to add a playmaker to his squad if possible in the near future.

By Gareth McKnight

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