Paul Scholes has made a rather stunning claim that Rúben Amorim “doesn’t like” his Manchester United squad following a 2-2 Europa League draw against Lyon.
Manchester United were held to a frustrating draw in Lyon as late defensive lapses denied them a crucial Europa League quarter-final victory in South France on Thursday evening.
United fell behind in the 26th minute following a moment of misjudgement from Andre Onana. Thiago Almada’s overstruck free kick was misread by the United keeper, with the ball bouncing inside the six-yard box and slipping into the net untouched.
Despite the setback, Rúben Amorim’s responded before half-time. Bruno Fernandes delivered a dangerous cross that Lyon’s goalkeeper failed to deal with.
he loose ball dropped to Manuel Ugarte, who wayward shot ended up in the path of Leny Yoro. The young defender converted from close range, scoring his first goal for the club and levelling the contest.
Amorim’s side began the second half with intent, dominating possession and territory. Their reward came late when Kobbie Mainoo nodded a direct ball into Bruno Fernandes, who lofted a perfectly weighted pass into the run of Joshua Zirkzee. The substitute guided his header past Lucas Perri to give United a deserved lead.
But Lyon struck back in stoppage time. A failed counterattack seemed to have run its course, but Ainsley Maitland-Niles kept the move alive and played in Almada. His deflected cross caused chaos in the box, and after Onana spilled Moussa Niakhaté’s shot, Rayan Cherki capitalised, firing home the equalizer in the final moments to ensure the sides head into the second leg all square.
Amorim “doesn’t like” his United squad, says Scholes
United legend Paul Scholes, who made 499 appearances for United, had a fair bit to say about the United manager at full time.
Speaking on TNT Sports, he said: “I don’t think he [Amorim] likes his team. I think he knows he hasn’t got a great football team.
“I think he wants better, he needs better, I think you can see that on the way he is on the touchline, he always looks disappointed to me.
“The way he’s speaking there tells me he’s disappointed with what he’s got, and he needs better. Everyone knows he needs better if he’s going to challenge and be where Manchester United wants to be.”
Amorim must change his whole squad
Further, Scholes explained that he feels there is not one particular area United must improve on, but rather must make wholesale changes in order to become a better side.
“I think it’s all over the pitch,” Scholes continued when talking about the changes that are needed. “I think he can be quite pleased defensively. I think they look quite tight, look quite solid recently, but he’s taken away that real goal threat that they should have.
“I think quality all around the pitch, it isn’t quite there, I don’t think they have control in the middle of the pitch, I don’t think the forward’s quality is quite there, so he knows he’s not shooting lucky, he’s never going to say it, but he doesn’t like this football team, that’s something I take away from that.
Scholes concluded: “I might be wrong I don’t know, but the impression I get is this team is nowhere near the standard that he wants and he expects and he’ll be looking over the next two or three years to get something a lot better, a lot more enjoyable to watch, a lot more attacking, a lot more quality in every area of the football pitch and that’s what he’ll thrive for.”
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