A current member of the Manchester United squad called for a training ground showdown with Paul Scholes over criticisms made by the pundit. Old Trafford great Scholes has developed a reputation as one of the more outspoken voices against his old club during their drastic decline in recent years.
The retired midfielder is as candid as former team-mate Roy Keane when it comes to being unabashed in his views on United’s fortunes. And Scholes has picked out certain stars over the years, aiming constructive criticism at the likes of captain Bruno Fernandes, Marcus Rashford, Diogo Dalot and others.
According to the 11-time Premier League champion, the players themselves are not immune to his comments. And one even took steps to get in touch with the club legend in the hopes of hashing things out in person.
“Players can be a little bit touchy these days,” said Scholes on The Overlap Fan Debate, brought to you by Sky Bet. “I had a player [currently at the club], this year, who contacted me and wasn’t happy with some of the things I’d said.
“He wanted to meet me at the training ground, and I said, ‘of course, no problem’ and gave him my number, but he never got back to me. I would have done it. If I’m saying things I believe and he wants me to explain why, it wouldn’t have been a nice conversation, but I said if they or anyone else has a problem, there’s my phone number.”
Although the meeting may not have materialised, Scholes underlines the point that players are hooked into social commentary. And it goes to show some are far from being immune to what’s being said about them.
United most recently copped criticism after seeing out a bore draw in Sunday’s Manchester derby at home to rivals City. Ruben Amorim’s men were judged for not being adventurous at home to their greatest nemeses, with another of Scholes’ former team-mates, Gary Neville, suggesting “robotic and micromanaged” players made it a “boring” affair.
The former full-back called for more “blood, thunder, risk and courage” from his old team in a game that always has the potential to transform moods at Old Trafford. Instead, United looked content with a share of the spoils and remain 13th in the Premier League.
The Red Devils hit a new low last season when they finished eighth in the division, their worst result in Premier League history. Yet that benchmark could be blown out of the water this term as they wallow in the bottom half with just seven games to play.
There’s optimism that things might improve once Amorim has a summer transfer window and some time to enact his own blueprint at United. However, it’s a familiar notion after Erik ten Hag, Jose Mourinho, Louis van Gaal and others have failed to do so over the past decade.
It was back in March that skipper Fernandes responded to Keane’s comments calling out members of the current United squad. The Irishman referred to Amorim’s squad as “f***ing imposters” and called on Fernandes in particular to prove himself as a leader, after which the Portugal international went on a tear of goals and assists.
“I have huge respect for Roy Keane. I think he was one of the best captains the club had,” said Fernandes in response. “An amazing player for the club, won basically everything for this club. It’s the way he thinks about me as a player, as a captain. I have to respect that.
“I try to do the things in my own way to be not the best captain but person and team-mate as I can. I do it every day. I try to be an example in everything I do in the training sessions, on the pitch. But obviously, not everyone will like (it), not everyone will think in the same way, and I respect every opinion of everyone.”
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