Manchester United legend Paul Scholes was known for his tackling - both good and bad - during a long and trophy-laden career, and he even dished it out to his teammates on the training ground.
Even his fellow academy talents weren't safe, as Phil Neville learned when the pair were together at Old Trafford. And Scholes has shared details of the mindset which saw him put his colleague in the stands during a training session.
Scholes is one of a number of former United stars to ask questions of the current crop in his role as a pundit, taking aim from behind a microphone on countless occasions this season. On top of this, though, he has been honest about what it was like to come up through the ranks during his playing days.
Back in 2017, during an appearance for BT Sport, Scholes was quizzed by fellow pundit Martin Keown about taking things out on the younger of the two Neville brothers. Rather than hiding from the question, the former England international opened up about the mindset which brought it about.
"You were competing, you were competitive, you needed to get in the team," Scholes said. "I'm not saying you go out to injure people, but me and Nicky [Butt], we're coming off with blood on our legs, everything.
"But that was the drive we had and the competition we had. You don't see a lot of that any more, that desire and will and that special talent you need to get into the team.
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Scholes was asked about the role of Eric Harrison as well as Sir Alex Ferguson in helping deliver the mindset. Harrison, who died in 2019, had played a pivotal role in helping Scholes and his contemporaries break into the first team in the 90s, but the long-serving coach also ensured none of them rested on their laurels.
"That was the environment Eric created," Scholes continued. "I think he could see in us that there was obviously talent, but he was onto us all the time.
"There was never a moment where you could relax and think "I've made it now, I'm a first team player'. He never let you feel that way, and that just made us all competitive. He was exactly the same as the manager.
"On the pitch, especially, it was that you must always have confidence and you must be brave, you must be able to take the ball anywhere on the football pitch. That wasn't just for midfield players - for forwards, for defenders, you have to play forward.
"It was always about being positive, the mindset was you go out to win games. You might concede goals and they wouldn't be happy with it, don't get me wrong, but it was always thinking about scoring goals, winning games and being positive."
Scholes ultimately played more than 700 times in a United shirt, making his debut in 1994 and playing his final game for the club in 2013. Over that time, the Englishman picked up 97 yellow cards in the Premier League alone, while being sent off four times.
Scholes has been critical of United this season, questioning their decision to appoint Ralf Rangnick as interim boss when the likes of Antonio Conte were available. "[Conte and Thomas Tuchel] are two top class coaches that strike fear into players and win, which is the most important thing. United, with either one of those managers, would be much better off," he said.
"You need a manager that strikes fear into players, Sir Alex Ferguson had that, have any of the managers since him had that? I don’t think so. It’s a special talent to have as a coach."
He has also taken aim at the players this season - verbally, rather than more directly - with the Champions League game against Atalanta a prime example. “The best teams do everything they can to get the ball back when they’re out of possession but this team thinks they can stroll about the pitch and wait for the ball," he said. “Because they have that talent, they will win a lot of games but out of possession they’re not going to win trophies.”
