The problems for Ruben Amorim’s Manchester United do not seem to end anytime soon, as they endure their worst start to a Premier League campaign in 33 years with just one win and four points from as many matches this season. On Sunday, the Reds were given a proper 3-0 thrashing by arch-rivals Manchester City, where their star striker Erling Haaland stole the show with a brace. Earlier, United lost 1-0 to Arsenal, drew 1-1 with Fulham and narrowly beat Burnley 3-2 in extra time.
United legend and their former player, Paul Scholes, fears that the issues at United are deep-rooted and will not be easily solved.
“I don’t think the quality is there,” he was quoted as saying by BBC Sports. “Whatever two out of the four or five they have got in [midfield] – Casemiro, Bruno [Fernandes], [Kobbie] Mainoo – whatever combination he seems to try doesn’t seem to work. That’s a big issue. I thought all summer the absolute priority was a centre midfield player with legs, who can play and can control a game.
“Goalkeeper was [also] a major issue. Did they really need to get to the Grimsby game to realise [Andre] Onana is not good enough? If Manchester United were not in the market for Gianluigi Donnarumma when he became available, that is criminal offence. The recruitment side went to buy forwards. That did need addressing, but did it need three of them? I’m not sure it did,” he added.
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Scholes, who won 11 Premier League titles and the Champions League twice in a 20-year career with the club. said he likes Amorim but the Portuguese cannot carry on playing the side the way he has been.
“He cannot carry on playing this way, he just can’t,” said Scholes, who won 11 Premier League titles and the Champions League twice in a 20-year career with the club. At some point there has to be a moment where he thinks, ‘I have to change something because what I am doing now is not working and I am not getting results’. The proof is there. I like Amorim, with everything he says, he seems to be a likeable man. But unfortunately results paint a picture,” said Scholes.
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“At this moment in time it isn’t good enough. At this moment in time if results don’t improve, performances don’t really matter that much. He has to win some games or the pressure is going to come on him massively,” he added.
‘Bruno the most creative player’
Scholes also advised on the position where United captain Bruno Fernandes should be playing. “He is the most creative player on the team, he should be playing as the No 10, there is no doubt about that,” he said to Sky Sports.
“But he is being asked to do something different. It is normal for a No 10 like he is to be able to do it for two or three games, to fill in when a midfielder is injured or suspended or something. But then you get a little bit bored of going back into position to defend,” he added.
