Manchester United’s Paul Scholes has backed comments made by first team coach Louis van Gaal which described the squad as ‘broken’ by their lack of organisation and efficiency under former boss David Moyes.
Former United favourite Scholes, who retired from a 22-year playing career with the Manchester giants last year, said the recent comments made by the Dutchman were completely justified. In his view the squad has been left ‘unbalanced’ in the wake of a bumpy season with Moyes at the helm.
The Scottish coach had limped over last season’s finish line with a dishevelled United squad in 7th position – the club’s biggest ‘failing’ in 24 years. As a result Moyes did not qualify the former European champions for next season’s Champions League tournament, which prompted fierce backlash from supporters along with his swift departure from Manchester with his P45.
Scholes said there are too many playmaker-types in the squad and now Rio Ferdinand (centre-back), Nemanja Vidic (Centre-back) and Patrice Evra (left-back) have moved on, there are not enough experienced defensive players to form a solid backbone for the team.
At a charity event this week, the ex-midfielder told Sky Sports News: “He said it himself (van Gaal), and the squad looks unbalanced to me.
“They have a number of number tens, with Juan Mata, Shinji Kagawa and Adnan Januzaj, and Ander Herrera looks more like a number ten than a central midfield player.
“Tom Cleverley, you could argue is a number ten as well, so there is a lot of them type of players but they are struggling a little bit for defenders.
“Phil Jones, Chris Smalling and Jonny Evans are the only recognised defenders.
“These three lads don’t have great injury records. They don’t seem to play as many games as the likes of Rio, Vidic and Evra, who have been the cornerstone of the defence for the last ten years.”
Scholes said the left-back situation appears a little vulnerable on last week’s departure of 33-year-old Evra, who had served the club as their regular since 2007.
The experienced Frenchman had won five Premier League titles, five Community Shields, three League Cups, and a prestigious Champions League title with the side.
On his move to Italian Serie A side Juventus, the vacated United left-back spot has been filled by a teenager who was already waiting in the wings – Luke Shaw – signed from Southampton a few weeks ago for a jaw-dropping £30m.
At just 19, Shaw has very little experience of playing top level football, just a one-season Premier League run with former club Southampton. He has not played in any major European tournaments and is yet to feature in a high-pressure final.
Scholes explained: “If you take them out, especially Evra with the left-back situation, with a young lad like Luke Shaw coming in on a big money move there will be a lot of pressure on him.
“It would have been nice for Patrice to stay and guide him through that, but I can understand Patrice’s side of the coin as well, he wants to play football.”
Despite the problems highlighted by the 39-year-old, Scholes, who featured in 499 of United’s first team fixtures, remained optimistic of van Gaal’s ability to organise the team and make the Red Devils title-contenders and European qualifiers once again.
“There are big losses but there are young defenders there, and if they stay fit I think they will do well.”