Fergie: Paul Scholes won't quit United at end of season

Sir Alex Ferguson is convinced he can persuade Paul Scholes to put his retirement plans on hold and give Manchester United one more full season.

Scholes has said this season could be his last for United after 16 years, wth a new generation of young players coming through to form Old Trafford's next dynasty.

But Fergie will urge the 34-year-old, who scored the winner in United's 1-0 Champions League win over Besiktas in Istanbul, to sign a contract extension and play on until 2011.

"I don't think this is Paul's last season," said Fergie. "What else has he got? He's a football man. He isn't going to drop down through the leagues, I'm sure of that.

"Once you've played for United for as long as he has - almost 20 years, Christ - what else are you going to do? 

"I've read stuff about him going to play for Oldham in his last year. No chance. It's difficult to say, but at the moment we're seeing the fresh Scholesy.

"But it's only September. We'll have to look at the season as a whole and see what happens. He won't be playing the entire season, but that's why we've got a squad of players.

"He'll miss more than he plays, but if I can get 25 games out of him at the level we saw against Spurs and Besiktas, we'll be delighted with that.

"I don't think this will be his last season, not the way he plays. He's not the type that bursts into the penalty box these days, is he?".

Scholes, who has played 610 times for United, scoring 143 goals, has seen his appearances rationed in recent seasons, like his contemporaries Ryan Giggs and Gary Neville.

But the former England midfielder, who retired from international football after Euro 2004 to prolong his club career, remains a key player for United to be able to call upon.

His legs may no longer allow him to be the box-to-box attacker who scored so frequently in his pomp, but his intelligence, vision and passing ability remain a potent weapon.

And if United are to win the Champions League this season, Fergie said players like Scholes will have a vital role to play as he utilises his entire squad for the long campaign.

"I think the material is there for us to win it this season," said Fergie. "We have a good bunch of players.

"If we win it this season it won't be the team that wins it, it will be the squad. It's not easy to win it, as we found out when we lost to Barcelona in the final in Rome.

"One mistake in a big game like that and you're crucified, remember that. One mistake and you're dead."

Despite losing the unique threat of Cristiano Ronaldo, who scored twice on his Champions League debut for Real Madrid, Fergie said the foundations are there for United to win it.

"Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic are the foundation in defence, and then there is Patrice Evra," said Fergie. "He's a fantastic player who's improving all the time.

"The area in which we've done well is compensating for the changes at right-back over the last two or three years.

"We had Wes Brown come in place of Gary Neville, then John O'Shea and Rafael Da Silva shared the spot and did well. It may be O'Shea's position now, who knows? 

"Edwin van der Sar may still be two or three weeks away from coming back, but when you see the save Ben Foster made from Jermaine Jenas at Spurs, you don't worry too much."