From banish calls to blasting ‘sulking’ stars, Scholes’ most damning Man Utd criticism after mystery player’s complaint
PAUL SCHOLES has not been afraid to stick the boot in on Manchester United this season.
So much so that one player phoned him up about his criticism.
Scholes revealed on The Overlap Fan Debate via Sky Bet one unnamed United man took matters into his own hands – and got in touch about the negative press.
The legendary midfielder, 50, said: “Players can be a little bit touchy these days.
“I had a player this year, who contacted me and wasn’t happy with some of the things I’d said.
“He wanted to meet me at the training ground.
“I said, ‘Of course, no problem,’ and gave him my number but he never got back to me.
“I would have done it. If I’m saying things I believe and he wants me to explain why, it wouldn’t have been a nice conversation.
“But I said if they or anyone else has a problem, there’s my phone number.”
Scholes did not say who the irked Red Devils player was – but there is no shortage of people at Old Trafford he has slammed this season…
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AUGUST 2024 – ANDRE ONANA
Before the season even started, Scholes was piling in on United – and Andre Onana was the first man caught in his crosshairs.
Scholes: “I’ve heard a lot of United fans say how excited they are for the new season… I’m struggling with that.
“The goalkeeper is a big concern for me. Even in pre-season with some of the goals he conceded. I worry to death about him.”
AUGUST 2024 – MATTHIJS DE LIGT
United brought in defender Matthijs de Ligt for £42million – and it is safe to say Scholes was not convinced given his lack of minutes for Bayern Munich last season.
Scholes: “We’re talking about players who can’t get into their team.
“He’s not playing for Bayern, that has to be a big concern, especially when Eric Dier is playing in front of him. That is a massive concern for me.”
SEPTEMBER 2024 – MATTHIJS DE LIGT
It didn’t take long for the club icon to continue his De Ligt rant and reckons Erik ten Hag was desperate to replace Harry Maguire.
Scholes: “He couldn’t wait to get de Ligt straight in ahead of Maguire, he was just waiting for the opportunity.
“And look, in all honestly, I’m not sure it is that much of an upgrade.
“He might be slightly better but he is not a massive improvement where you think, ‘Wow.'”
OCTOBER 2024 – NEW SIGNINGS
He blasted the club’s “ridiculous” transfer strategy – and namedropped five flop arrivals.
Scholes: “Zirkzee, what is he? Is he a No9 or a No10? Is he going to get you 20 goals? I don’t think so.
“Rasmus Hojlund does alright – but is he gonna score you 20 goals? I don’t think so.
“I think they are relying more on hope than actual proven quality and they spent so much money as well.
“It’s a ridiculous amount of money and some of them can’t get in the team.
“You think of Ugarte coming into the club, who was supposed to change the midfield, Ten Hag didn’t play him.
“De Ligt, £50m and he didn’t play him. Jonny Evans has come in at 36-years-old instead of him.
“Martinez, Ten Hag brought him into the club. What must he be thinking? Jonny Evans is playing, Harry Maguire started, Victor Lindelof comes on before him.”
OCTOBER 2024 – ERIK TEN HAG
It was not just the players feeling the heat from Scholes, who also went in on Ten Hag just before his sacking.
Scholes: “There’s been no improvement.
“I think that’s the biggest disappointment with two and a little bit years in, a lot of money has been spent and we’re not seeing improvement.
“You’d like to think by now they’re up there challenging them. The top three teams I know Liverpool, City and Arsenal are ahead of most other teams.
“You’d like to see them getting even a little bit closer to that, but it doesn’t feel like it.”
JANUARY 2025 – KOBBIE MAINOO
After a few quieter months as Ruben Amorim replaced Ten Hag, Scholes continued his onslaught in the New Year by raising questions over Kobbie Mainoo’s fitness levels.
Scholes: “Mainoo with his legs has to be a worry.
“He doesn’t finish a lot of games.”
JANUARY 2025 – MAN UTD SQUAD
Scholes then took aim at pretty much the entire squad – as just three avoided the chop in a game of “keep or sell”.
Mainoo, Onana and Alejandro Garnacho avoided the ruthless culling but the rest he was asked about were dumped.
Scholes said Luke Shaw and Mason Mount are “never fit”, Casemiro is past his best and defenders De Ligt and Lisandro Martinez can go.
For Antony, Joshua Zirkzee and Marcus Rashford, Scholes simply replied: “Sell.”
JANUARY 2025 – MARCUS RASHFORD
Rashford took plenty of flak inside and outside the club ahead of his loan move to Aston Villa – and Scholes did not hold back.
Scholes: “I think Marcus has let a lot of people down with his attitude.
“He’s 27, he’s clearly not training properly, he’s not living his life properly.
“In a way, he’s saying he doesn’t want to be involved with the team and the fact of letting his teammates down, he should be banished from the dressing room.”
FEBRUARY 2025 – RUBEN AMORIM & PATRICK DORGU
Patrick Dorgu only arrived in the January transfer window but it did not take long for Scholes’ attention to be drawn to the defender when United played Leicester in the FA Cup.
He seemingly took a sarcastic swipe at Amorim playing the Danish full-back out of position.
An unimpressed Scholes posted on Instagram: “Inverted wing-backs… you saw it at [Old Trafford] first.”
MARCH 2025 – ALEJANDRO GARNACHO
Scholes singled out Garnacho for criticism after the Argentine winger threw a strop when substituted off against Ipswich.
Scholes: “He looked like he was sulking a little bit to me.
“Garnacho’s biggest strength is running through. Sometimes he makes the wrong decisions but he had a lack of energy and a little bit of silkiness.
“He will need to get better as they don’t really have anything else to call on.”
MARCH 2025 – SIR JIM RATCLIFFE
And the 11-time Premier League winner even took a swing at owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe over the ambitious £2billion new stadium plans.
Scholes: “You can be gullible at times, and believe what he says, just because you’ve never heard anyone say anything before. You don’t know how realistic it is, it’s all up in the air.
“Words are cheap, and we could say anything about anyone, you can say in 10 years we’ll have the biggest and best stadium.
“For a long time, we’ve been called the richest club in the world, but I feel like we’re begging a little, asking for the stadium and that we need £2billion, and selling players to buy players.”