in 2001–02, united completed the signing of argentine international juan sebastián verón. in order to accommodate scholes and verón, ferguson persisted with the 4–4–1–1 formation, with scholes playing at the withdrawn striker role behind ruud van nistelrooy, as roy keane and verón played in central midfield. in european away fixtures, scholes was often played in central midfield alongside verón as keane anchored.