Paul Scholes convinced Man Utd star is ‘lost’ under Ruben Amorim, warns his new prediction ‘sound ridiculous’

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Paul Scholes thinks that Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim does not “know what to do” with one key first-team player in his Red Devils squad.

Manchester United returned to winning ways last week after a hard-fought 2-1 comeback win over Ruud van Nistelrooy’s Leicester City side in the FA Cup.

Ruben Amorim’s men kept their FA Cup title defence alive with their victory at Old Trafford last Friday and punched their ticket to the fifth round of the competition.

The Red Devils have seen a consistent run of results in both the Europa League and the FA Cup since Amorim’s arrival from Portuguese outfit Sporting CP last November.

However, Amorim has faced a bigger challenge in turning around United’s run of form and results in the Premier League in the 2024-25 campaign.

The Red Devils languish in 13th place in the Premier League table and United have won only eight league matches from the 24 fixtures they have played this season.

READ MORE: Ryan Giggs tells Ruben Amorim most important thing he must do at Man Utd, it should be ‘first and foremost’ on his list

Scholes on Man Utd ace under Amorim

Ruben Amorim oversaw a 2-0 defeat to Crystal Palace at Old Trafford earlier this month on Manchester United’s last Premier League outing.

The 40-year-old United manager surprisingly started Kobbie Mainoo as a false nine against Crystal Palace, with Joshua Zirkzee and Rasmus Hojlund left on the bench.

Kobbie Mainoo started off the match strong in the false nine role, but the Three Lions international struggled to make a real impact in the final third.

Amorim eventually shook up his tactics in the second half after he took Mainoo off and brought United striker Rasmus Hojlund off the bench for the clash.

Mainoo has been deployed in various positions in Amorim’s tactical system for United, including playing in central midfield and as one of the two No 10s.

Speaking on The Overlap, Paul Scholes believes the 19-year-old United and England midfielder’s best position under Amorim would be in one of the two No 10 roles.

“Now I think Mainoo, he’s lost,” he said.

“I talked about Declan Rice being lost before. I think Mainoo’s as well. I don’t think they know what to do with him.

“I don’t think he knows where to play on a football pitch. Because he’s been played in that – what is it? – [in] one of those No 10 positions, he has been played the two in midfield, which I can see probably doesn’t succeed.

“I don’t think he’s the greatest athlete. He’s a great footballer. I think the No 10 does suit him. The false nine, never in a million years.”

READ MORE: Ryan Giggs argues Man Utd ace has ‘world on his shoulders’ and needs to play ‘with freedom,’ he’s baffled by player’s fall

Scholes’ warning to Man Utd over Amorim

Scholes insisted that United must perfect getting the “core” of Amorim’s team right or the Red Devils could end up in a “relegation fight” next season.

“But that spine, that core is so important to this,” he said.

“If they don’t get that right this summer, this might sound ridiculous, but the form since this manager has been in, they could be looking at being in that relegation fight.

“I’m telling you it’s been so bad.”