Scholes ruthlessly admits numerous players ‘shouldn’t be’ at a club of United’s ‘stature’

Treble-winner Paul Scholes must find his former and boyhood club entirely unrecognisable these days.

As do most Manchester United fans, namely those who grew up watching the side in the midst of Sir Alex Ferguson’s illustrious, record-making tenure.

Scholes is one player who not only witnessed but was integral to United’s successes back then, playing a vital role as they mounted title charge after title charge and reaped accolade after accolade.

Now, he can only watch in disbelief at how United fare each week. He was on last night’s Premier League Productions panel to give his verdict on the Reds’ clash with Crystal Palace and after the full-time whistle, was left trying to dissect the night’s affairs at Selhurst Park.

Erik ten Hag’s men were outclassed and outperformed from minute one through to 90 as the Eagles hit them for four goals without conceding one in response.

The result left the side eighth-placed and on course to oversee their lowest-ever Premier League finish, with the manager being dealt an 18th defeat of the term in all competitions.

Scholes reacts

“A very upsetting and sad performance,” Scholes said of United’s showing. “Even though there are a lot of players out who would probably start in the team. Five or six probably of the main ones. But it felt like one team had been coached and set up how to play. And one team that was so easy to play against that it’s untrue.

“There are still some good players in that Man United team and playing out on that pitch. You think of the likes of Casemiro. He’s tough to have a go at. What a player he has been over the years, but that was tough to watch – he was on his backside most of the time. People like Christian Eriksen as well. That physicality in the middle of the pitch has gone.

“I reckon that could have happened four or five times where Casemiro sits down, and somebody skips past him. The lad’s not a centre-half. It’s tough to have a bit of a pop at him. He has done so much for the game – a fantastic footballer. It’s difficult watching a few of these, actually, because I do feel they are towards the end [of their careers]. They shouldn’t be at a club of this stature, really.”