Why did Andy Cole not take penalties for United?

“It is what it is,” he continued. “It wasn’t even that [others wanted to take it more], I wanted to score goals in open play. I genuinely said that to myself. If I didn’t think I could do that, I don’t think I’d be good enough, that was a simple way to look at it.

“You can say that’s arrogant but I’m not arrogant. Football is played in open play and to have a penalty, I suppose it’s that simple, if you can’t score goals in open play, you’re not good enough to play at the elite level. That is the way I looked at it, even more so now, and I’m proud of my record.”

Cole played for United at a time when there were some brilliant penalty-takers around, including Eric Cantona and Denis Irwin, and is certainly not bitter that the leading all-time Premier League marksman Shearer racked up 56 goals from the spot.