Paul Scholes has challenged Wayne Rooney’s view on whether Manchester United should be awarded the 2011-12 English league title if it is taken away from Manchester City, saying he wants to keep his winner’s medal.
Rooney said he would not feel comfortable accepting another medal for the campaign, when United finished level on points with Manchester City but lost the title on goal difference on a decisive final day.
Speaking on the Stick to United podcast, Rooney said: “I wouldn’t feel comfortable accepting another medal. I don’t think we deserve it. We didn’t do enough that season to win the league.”
He added: “It might happen and they might take the titles away, but I don’t want that medal because I believe that, as a team, we didn’t deserve it that season. We didn’t finish the season in first place.”
Scholes, who won five English league titles alongside Rooney at United, offered a different view in an Instagram story, according to the Daily Mail.
“I keep hearing former team-mates saying they want titles taken off them, but they don’t want their medals,” Scholes wrote. “Sod that, I’m greedy, I want my medal.”
Scholes has 11 English league winner’s medals in his collection, making him one of the most decorated players in Manchester United’s history.
The debate follows the publication of an independent commission’s ruling that found Manchester City had breached financial rules over a nine-year period between 2009 and 2018. The club could consequently have nine titles won during that period withdrawn.
Former Manchester United players Rio Ferdinand and David de Gea have previously backed the idea of awarding United the 2012 title.
The 2011-12 campaign ended with Manchester City taking the championship from United on goal difference. City’s title was secured after a decisive final day, leaving United without the trophy despite finishing level on points.
Rooney’s position is that United’s performance over the season did not justify receiving the title retrospectively, even if Manchester City were stripped of it. Scholes, by contrast, has made clear that he would accept the medal associated with the campaign.
The pair were team-mates during a highly successful period for Manchester United and collected five English league titles together. Scholes’ wider collection of 11 league winner’s medals reflects his place among the club’s most successful players.