Recently-retired Manchester United midfielder Paul Scholes has rejected the theory there was any malice behind his infamous tackling technique.

Scholes is widely acknowledged to be one of the best players of his generation.

Zinedine Zidane, Xavi and Edgar Davids are among those who have claimed Scholes was the English player they would have most liked to star alongside.

However, along with the huge talent that propelled him to 10 Premier League titles and a Champions League triumph in 1999 came occasional haphazard challenges that bordered on the reckless.

Although overall, he was hugely complimentary, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger claimed Scholes had a "dark side".

And following the final red card of his career, for a thigh-high challenge on Pablo Zabaleta in United's FA Cup semi-final defeat to Manchester City at Wembley in April, even Sir Alex Ferguson admitted "the red mist sometimes descends" on the 36-year-old.

Yet Scholes, whose 90 yellow cards make him the third most booked player in Premier League history, feels his reputation is unwarranted.

"I have just been unlucky," he said.

"I never had red mist against anybody.

"The one against Zabaleta, I didn't do on purpose. It was just bad timing.

"The ball was up there and the way your leg goes it has to come down and unfortunately it came down on his leg.

"I would never intentionally try to hurt somebody. Nobody has ever had to go off following one of my tackles and nobody has broken their leg.

"I have never been nasty."

Scholes' opponents no longer have to worry, either about the midfielder's tackling or his remarkable passing ability.

As Ferguson noted, it was typical that Scholes' retirement should be announced when he had disappeared on holiday, with the minimum of fuss, in the wake of United's Champions League final defeat to Barcelona.

He has now returned to explain his reasons, pointing out that it was his body, rather than frustration at being used so sparingly, that led to his decision.

"I knew it was the right time to happen," he said.

"You can't go on forever. It's all done now and I am looking towards the future.

"There wasn't one moment in particular. There were a few games later in the season where I didn't feel great, and in training as well. In general it was the way I felt.

"Nobody wants to play a bit-part, but I'd realised that at this stage of my career and where I was physically, it was the right way to use me.

"But, it wasn't the odd game, I was only actually feeling good when I was coming on for the last 15 or 20 minutes at the end of matches, which wasn't right."

rioferdy5 Rio Ferdinand
Welcome to Phil Jones,another top young talent joining the club.The future is bright I think he knows the #stayonyourfeet #movement #oooff!
22 minutes ago

WayneRooney Wayne Rooney
Welcome to man utd phil jones. Looking forward to playing with u
4 minutes ago

themichaelowen michael owen
So the Phil Jones transfer has gone through. 5 year deal. Great news.
24 minutes ago

PHIL JONES has completed his £16.5million move from Blackburn to Manchester United after signing a five-year deal

United thought they had secured Jones' services last week, only for the transfer to hit an unforeseen snag.

Blackburn had been holding out for more cash after Liverpool had jumped in with a cheeky £22million offer.

But Jones, who featured for England Under-21's in their opening European Championship match against Spain in Denmark last night, told Rovers he did not wish to join any other club than United.

And with the Red Devils refusing to budge beyond the amount that triggered the buyout clause in the 19-year-old's contract, Blackburn have been forced to agree a sale.

A United statement said: "Manchester United is delighted to announce it has signed an agreement with Blackburn Rovers for the transfer of Phil Jones.

"The player passed a medical in Manchester last week and has agreed a five-year contract.

"The deal will be completed once the player returns from international duty."