Paul Scholes was left scratching his head over the approach that Erik ten Hag made to four Manchester United players against Fenerbahce in the Europa League.
Manchester United travelled to Istanbul on Thursday evening and picked up a point from their Europa League encounter with Fenerbahce in Turkey.
Erik ten Hag’s men had taken control of the Europa League tie in the first half after Christian Eriksen broke the deadlock for United in the 15th minute.
Fenerbahce fought back after the break and striker Youssef En-Nesyri pulled back an all-important equaliser only four minutes into the second half.
United have now secured three points from their first three matches in the 2024-25 Europa League season, with Ten Hag failing to pick up a single win so far.
Fenerbahce, who are managed by former United boss Jose Mourinho, have won one and picked up two draws since the start of their Europa League campaign.
Scholes on four Man Utd players
Speaking on TNT Sports, Paul Scholes admitted that he was caught by complete surprise by Noussair Mazraoui being deployed as a No 10 against Fenerbahce.
Erik ten Hag was without Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes and turned to summer signing Noussair Mazraoui to play in a more advanced attacking position.
Mazraoui, who was signed from Bayern Munich, played behind fellow summer signing Joshua Zirkzee and failed to have a deeply influential role as a No 10.
The 26-year-old former Ajax and Bayern Munich star shifted to full-back in the second half after Victor Lindelof came off the pitch for Casemiro in the 55th minute.
Joshua Zirkzee also made way at the same time for United striker Rasmus Hojlund, with United manager Ten Hag shaking up his team for the second half.
Scholes was confused at the fact that Casemiro and Rasmus Hojlund did not start the match and why Christian Eriksen wasn’t played in the advanced role over Mazraoui.
“The stats at the end of it look like the game was pretty even, and it was. United did look dangerous at times,” he said.
“Fenerbahce were really good and they’re a good team, I think he [Mourinho] talks his team down a little bit, he doesn’t give them enough credit really.
“The Mazraoui in the No 10 as we spoke about – didn’t see it happening. I didn’t see that working.
“I didn’t see it working before the game, I didn’t see it working during the game, I don’t see it working after the game. It was a strange thing to do when he [Ten Hag] needs to win the game as well.
“Man United are not cruising in this group, they’re in a really tough position and they need to go and win the game. Play Casemiro, play Eriksen further forward, play [Rasmus] Hojlund.
“He needs to win games. He’s in a period of pressure where people are having a go at him. He needs to win games, so play your best players.”
Mourinho reacts to Mazraoui No 10 decision
Former United manager Jose Mourinho insisted that he was not surprised by how Ten Hag used Noussair Mazraoui in the No 10 role for the Fenerbahce match.
“The situation with Mazraoui, for you, [it] was maybe a big surprise,” he said, as per Manchester United’s official website.
“But not for us because Sofyan Amrabat told me Mazraoui can play in this position.
“He did it a lot with Erik ten Hag in Ajax. He has the qualities. He’s not Bruno but he has the legs to press.”
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