Paul Scholes recently voiced strong criticism of Manchester United’s latest poor performance, calling the team “uncoached” after a demoralizing 3-0 loss to Tottenham. Scholes, speaking on SuperSport, expressed disappointment in the team’s tactics and questioned the wisdom of United’s decision to sign Matthijs de Ligt. This defeat only adds to United’s woes in a challenging 2024/25 season, with the match’s outcome driving them down to 12th place in the Premier League standings.
The match began disastrously for United, with Tottenham’s Brennan Johnson netting a goal just three minutes in, sparking excitement among the away fans. Matters grew worse in the 42nd minute when Bruno Fernandes received a straight red card for a dangerous tackle on James Maddison.
Reduced to ten men, United struggled to contain Tottenham, who secured a decisive win through second-half goals from Dejan Kulusevski and Dominic Solanke. This setback places even greater pressure on Erik ten Hag, who now faces the tough task of securing a positive result against Aston Villa to keep his position stable.
Scholes didn’t hold back in his post-match analysis, highlighting the absence of a clear tactical approach. He remarked, “It’s impossible to predict their approach. There’s no clarity on whether they want to counter-attack, defend deep, or control possession. They look like an uncoached team.” Scholes pointed out how, unlike United, Tottenham under manager Ange Postecoglou have demonstrated clear direction from the outset. “From day one, we could see Tottenham’s direction under Ange Postecoglou, and they’ve stuck to it,” Scholes noted.
Meanwhile, two years into Ten Hag’s leadership, Scholes feels United still lack that essential structure. “The players seemed drained, lifeless, and uncertain, showing little passion for the game. This kind of energy has to come from the training sessions,” he added, suggesting that United’s problems may stem from inadequate or inconsistent coaching.
Furthermore, Scholes raised concerns about United’s recruitment, particularly the recent signing of Matthijs de Ligt, who joined the club for £43 million. He argued that the Dutch defender hasn’t shown himself to be an upgrade over Harry Maguire, who has started only two league games this season.
“When you bring in new players, you expect them to raise the team’s standards,” Scholes stated, lamenting the lack of substantial impact from recent signings. He then questioned whether De Ligt’s reported £50 million valuation could be justified, stating emphatically, “No, absolutely not.”
Scholes went on to challenge the team to take responsibility and work harder to improve on the field, as Ten Hag’s position is becoming increasingly precarious with each loss. “These are experienced players, and they’ve cost the club a lot,” he said.
He urged the team to end their pattern of “making excuses,” refocus on training, and develop a clear playing style that could provide the consistency United have been missing. Scholes emphasized that it’s time for the squad to show some resolve and demonstrate tangible progress before the weight of expectations on Ten Hag becomes unmanageable.
