Paul Scholes says star ‘huge loss’ for Manchester United and fears Red Devils ace not good enough for big games

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Manchester United legend Paul Scholes has been speaking about the club’s tough start to the 2023/24 season.

United are in sixth place entering the final international break of the season, with a series of injuries to the first team squad stretching Erik ten Hag‘s options.

Paul Scholes believes Manchester United are doing well to be in the mix for the top four, with the club legend speaking to the Webby and O’Neill YouTube channel.

He said: “We know there’s a big gap when it comes to the likes of City, other teams it is much of a muchness. Yeah, Liverpool are decent, Arsenal are decent, but Man United should be in that fight for the top four and I still think they will be come the end of the season.”

Scholes laments injuries

An injury crisis has impacted Manchester United and Scholes says he has some sympathy for the manager.

He said: “We’ve had so many injuries. He’s emphasised he wants a settled back four and a holding midfield player. He’s not been able to pick a settled back four all season. Amrabat came in late, Casemiro picked up an injury. It’s just not been right.”

Scholes on Luke Shaw and Diogo Dalot

Among the various Manchester United injury problems, Scholes says he believes defender Luke Shaw has been the player whose absence has hurt the team the most.

He said: “Luke Shaw’s a big miss. He gives you real balance on the left-hand side. He gets you up the pitch with his pace. I think he’s been a huge miss.”

The former midfielder was not so complimentary about right-back Diogo Dalot, who he feels has been found wanting in big games.

Scholes said: “I’m not sure if the right-back’s good enough, Dalot, when it comes to the big games. I’m not sure his character is big enough to handle the big games. Wan-Bissaka can do it defensively not a problem. Going forward he has improved don’t get me wrong, I just think the balance of the team has been a little bit wrong.”

To Dalot’s credit he has managed to stay fit all season, racking up the fourth most minutes of any player. But he has been found lacking lately, culpable for goals conceded in defeats against Galatasaray, Newcastle and Copenhagen. Is this because he is not good enough, or as Scholes says, lacks the character to handle big games, or is it symptomatic of burnout, a player lacking physical and mental rest, often playing two positions? The answer may be a mix of the two.