Manchester United have been on the receiving end of criticism from ex-players, with Paul Scholes among those to ask questions during Ruben Amorim’s first full season at the helm
Ruben Amorim during Manchester United’s win at Wolves(Image: Getty Images)
Former Manchester United star Paul Scholes tore into Ruben Amorim after their 1-1 Premier League draw against West Ham. Amorim’s side delivered the perfect response, though, putting four goals past bottom-of-the-table Wolves to move within a point of the Champions League places.
United are in better shape than in Amorim’s first season, when the Portuguese coach led them to a first ever bottom-half finish in the Premier League after replacing Erik ten Hag about a third of the way into the season. With no European distractions, the Red Devils have already matched the seven league wins their current boss secured last term.
Wolves were their latest victims, with captain Bruno Fernandes scoring twice in a 4-1 win at Molineux. However, things weren’t looking quite as rosy on Thursday when West Ham midfielder Soungoutou Magassa denied United at Old Trafford.
“I don’t think this manager gets this club, full stop. I just don’t think he’s the right man,” Scholes said on The Good, the Bad and the Football after the West Ham game. “Man United is about risk and entertainment, more than anything. At home having fans on the edge of their seats ready to go, wingers who beat people, shots on goal, bits of skill. There’s nothing there.”
Scholes questioned those who hired Amorim, arguing his preferred three-at-the-back system is not what makes a United manager. “Right away that’s a no,” he continued. “Man United never do that. They cant do that. It’s been proven over years and years and years.”
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Scholes’ latest comments come after reports that United players have drawn ‘battle lines’ over ex-players in the media. Scholes is one of a number of former United stars to take aim at the current crop, with Gary Neville and Roy Keane also particularly vocal.
If they’ve been affected by the chatter, it didn’t show at Molineux. Wolves might have gone in level at the break thanks to Jean-Ricner Bellegarde’s effort, but United registered 27 shots – 10 of them on-target – en route to three points against their winless opponents.
Manchester United players celebrate their fourth goal against Wolves(Image: Offside via Getty Images)
“We played well most of the time. We should have a different score in the end,” Amorim told BBC Sport. “I’m pleased with the second half that we understood we had another opportunity.”
The Portugues was also asked about his half-time team-talk, adding: “It wasn’t tactical. It was so clear we are dominating the games but not finishing the plays as we should do. We need to be better in the details. Trying to explain to the players we have 45 minutes to win the three points that are crucal for our life.
“It’s important. We had some games against teams in better moments and had many shots. We need to improve the quality of the shots. We need to focus not just on scoring but protecting our goal.”
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