‘That’s NOT the way to win away games in Europe’: Paul Scholes says Man United ‘don’t play like a team’ and lack ‘leaders’ and ‘discipline’ after throwing away 3-1 lead at Galatasaray
- Man United twice let two-goal leads slip against Galatasaray in Istanbul
- Paul Scholes believes the side’s lack of discipline let them down in the game
- Was Garnacho’s overhead kick REALLY the greatest ever? Listen to the debate on It’s All Kicking Off
Paul Scholes was left unimpressed by Manchester United’s ‘lack of discipline’ after they twice failed to hold on to a two-goal lead in their 3-3 draw with Galatasaray in Istanbul.
The Red Devils raced into a 2-0 lead inside 18 minutes through Alejandro Garnacho and Bruno Fernandes, but Hakim Ziyech brought Galatasaray back into the match before the break.
United re-established their two-goal lead after the interval when Scott McTominay tapped home, but Ziyech scored again and Kerem Akturkoglu earned the hosts a point in a frenetic encounter.
Scholes was bemused by United’s game management, and slammed their approach when they were in control of the match.
‘I’m not sure I’ve ever seen a game like that, it was complete madness from start to finish. They started brilliantly and go 2-0 up, and then there’s a lack of discipline,’ Scholes told TNT Sports as he assessed United’s performance.
Man United twice let a two-goal lead slip as they drew 3-3 with Galatasaray
Paul Scholes was frustrated by United’s ‘lack of discipline’ when they were in control
Owen Hargreaves is also concerned by the ‘soft’ goals United are conceding in Europe
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‘It’s very difficult to win games away from home in Europe that way. They were still going for the throat, they were still trying to score goals.
‘They conceded one, conceded a bad goal. Obviously, the keeper had a really tough night. But that’s just not the way to win games in Europe. I’ve never seen teams go away from home in Europe, throw everything at teams and win the game.
‘You’re 2-0 up, you’re 3-1 up, play your positions. Just relax. McTominay’s bombing off everywhere. You’ve got to give him credit for scoring the goal, half give the team credit for wanting to score goals all the time, but as a way of winning a game in Europe, it just wasn’t disciplined enough for me.’
Scholes also questioned the lack of leadership at the back from United, and suggested that the likes of Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelof should have been encouraging their team-mates to ‘calm the game down’.
Owen Hargreaves was in agreement with Scholes, and pointed out that this is a recurring problem for United, as they have scored three goals in each of their away matches in Europe this term, but have picked up just one point.
‘They were in control of the game. They scored three in Munich and lost, they scored three in Copenhagen and lost, they scored three here and drew,; he added.
‘They’re scoring the goals but they’re conceding soft goals. You can’t do that in Europe.’
Scott McTominay said the players are sticking together, but Scholes does not feel United are playing as a team at the moment
Following the match, TNT Sports spoke to McTominay who was clearly disappointed by the final result but insisted the team would stick together.
Scholes is not buying that his former club are all singing from the same hymn sheet, though, and stated that United are not playing as a unit at the moment.
‘It doesn’t feel like a team to me. They don’t play like a team,’ he said.
‘Nothing is changing, they’re not doing anything to stop it. When you play like that, your two central defenders particularly, they have to be bigger, stronger than the people they’re up against and I don’t think they are.’
United’s fate is now out of their hands heading into their final group game at home to Bayern Munich.
They must beat the German champions to stand any chance of making the knockout stages – a result that Scholes is not optimistic they are capable of getting.
United must win their last game against Bayern Munich, and Scholes is not convinced Erik ten Hag’s team are capable of beating the German champions
‘At this point, no,’ Scholes replied when asked if he thinks United can beat Bayern.
‘The only thing that might help them is the situation because Bayern Munich are through. They might played a weakened team but still their weakened team is very good.’
Hargreaves also believes United have left themselves with an uphill task.
‘The quality of goals they’re conceding, they’re going to struggle to get through to the next round,’ he said.
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