After Manchester United’s humiliating 3-0 defeat to Tottenham, Paul Scholes stated the club appeared to be a ‘uncoached squad’ and questioned Matthijs de Ligt’s signing.
The Red Devils’ terrible start to the 2024/25 season continued at Old Trafford, with Brennan Johnson breaking the deadlock just three minutes, sending Spurs’ away fans into raptures.
Bruno Fernandes received a straight red card in the 42nd minute for a reckless tackle on James Maddison, and the hosts’ plight deteriorated further when Dejan Kulusevski and Dominic Solanke scored in the second half to seal the victory.
The loss means United stay in 12th position in the Premier League standings, with Erik ten Hag under strong pressure to provide a result away to Aston Villa next weekend.
‘You don’t know how they’re going to play,’ legendary ex-United and England player Scholes told SuperSport.
‘You don’t know how they’re going to approach games, whether they’ll play on the counter-attack, sit deep, or attempt to have complete control of the game. We have no idea. They resemble an uncoached football squad.
We’ve been together for two and a half years. We probably understood what Tottenham was doing from the first week Ange Postecoglou took over, and they continue to do so now.
‘We’re two and a half years down the road [at United], and as I mentioned, it’s an uncoached squad.
‘The players looked lifeless today, flat, as if they didn’t know what to do; there is no excitement for the game of football, which can only come from the training pitch.
‘Some of the positions that people take up on the pitch are absolutely crazy at times.’
Scholes criticized United’s latest signings and says De Ligt, who cost £43 million in the summer, is no better than Harry Maguire, who has only made two league starts this season.
‘When you bring in new players, you expect them to be far superior to your current roster. “I don’t see players coming in who will make a big difference,” Scholes stated.
‘De Ligt has come in for Maguire, let’s say, but there’s no significant change.
When asked if De Ligt is a £50 million better over previous club captain Maguire, Scholes said, “No, absolutely not.”
