Olaleye Idowu
Former Manchester United midfielder, Paul Scholes, has hit out at five players in the current squad following their 0-0 draw at Aston Villa on Sunday.
Scholes singled out Rasmus Hojlund, Joshua Zirkzee, Manuel Ugarte, Lisandro Martinez and Matthijs de Ligt as United’s winless run stretched to five matches.
The Red Devils have also slipped to 14th place in the Premier League table.
Their miserable start to this campaign comes despite another summer of heavy spending.
Zirkzee, De Ligt, Ugarte, Leny Yoro and Noussair Mazraoui all arrived at Old Trafford last summer.
But Scholes feels the first three will not be able to make a positive impact.
He also questioned the roles of Hojlund and Martinez.
“In forward areas especially, I just don’t think the quality is there. We go back to the most successful teams, they’re capable of scoring goals. What have we scored? Five goals in seven games,” Scholes told SuperSport.
“Now we had three or four forwards who could get you 20 goals so you’re looking at 80 goals a season there and I just don’t see that in the forward line at Manchester United. Look, Hojlund does alright but is he gonna score you 20 goals? I don’t think so.
“Zirkzee… what is he? Is he a No.9 or a No.10? Is he going to get you 20 goals? I don’t think so. I think they’re 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 way the midfield was… he 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’s he thinking today? Jonny Evans is playing, Maguire started, [Victor] Lindelof comes on before him. It’s just a recruitment mess really.”
