New Oldham Athletic boss Paul Scholes anticipates Jose Mourinho taking a keen interest in how he fares in management having often criticised the Portuguese as a television pundit.
Former England and Manchester United midfielder Scholes has made his first foray into management with League Two side Oldham, the club he supported as a boy.
The 44-year-old retired from playing in 2013 having spent his entire career at Old Trafford, and he initially moved into punditry.
It was in that role that he lambasted Mourinho’s time at United, with Scholes having accused him of “embarrassing the club” before he was sacked in December.
“I think he will be watching results,” Scholes said at a news conference.
“Whether he will be watching the games, I am not too sure.
“That is part of the thing that bugged me a little bit. I wanted to get into it anyway but I have left myself wide open.
“I have been quite critical. If pundits – I don’t think we will get many pundits watching – if we are losing games I am sure people will be popping up.
“They can say what they want, I have never really understood why players and managers take notice of what pundits say anyway. They are just giving an opinion on the game and get paid for doing so.
“If anyone wants to have a dig at me, I won’t be taking any notice. The only person I answer to is the owner.”
Scholes is the latest player from Alex Ferguson’s United sides to move into management, following in the footsteps of ex-colleagues like Gary Neville, Ryan Giggs and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.