Paul Scholes sent a scathing warning to the Manchester United squad after beating Southampton on Thursday night.
After encouraging performances against Liverpool and Arsenal, Manchester United were second best against Premier League strugglers Southampton, despite forcing a memorable comeback.
United beat Southampton 3-1 despite being deservedly behind at the interval after Manuel Ugarte turned the ball into his own net from a corner. The Reds were eventually bailed out when Amad Diallo struck a 12-minute hat-trick at the end.
The win moved United to 12th in the league table, but there was little reason for celebration because Ruben Amorim’s side will need to perform much better to take three points from Brighton on Sunday.
Several stars underperformed in a game United should be winning comfortably.
Paul Scholes criticises Rasmus Hojlund performance
Paul Scholes was not jumping for joy after United’s win over Southampton.
Instead, the United legend was reserved in his post-match assessment.
Scholes singled out Rasmus Hojlund’s display for criticism after the forward managed just 18 touches before he was replaced by Joshua Zirkzee.
“You can understand that (the home record weighing heavily on players), of course you can, but you always have to remember you are playing against the bottom of the table,” Scholes told TNT Sports’ live broadcast.
“This should be a chance for the players rubbing hands thinking right, Rasmus Hojlund: ‘This is where I am going to get my goals’. This is where we are going to come out and win three, four or five nil after two really good results.
“I wouldn’t say the performance at Arsenal was special, they survived with ten men. I thought they were better the week before at Liverpool.
“You expect them to come out and give it a real go and in ten minutes go and blast them, blast them away. But, give Southampton credit, they were brilliant at times and played some really good football.”
Scholes added: “I thought they were a lot better than Manchester United, I thought tacticaly they were better. I thought technically they were better which was the most surprising thing, just the way they pass the ball into people and the way they receive it.
“[Ruben] Amorim said that about his own team, United were really poor. The side of the defender to pass the ball, the weight of pass, the control when it came into Rasmus Hojlund was so poor at times, he kept giving it back to them.
“It’s solely because of Amad United have won this game, the rest of the players… [take a] long hard look at yourselves.”
Time for Joshua Zirkzee to step up
Hojlund can’t say he hasn’t been given opportunities to prove himself in United’s first team, but the Denmark international has failed to score in his last eight games.
Zirkzee, who has more goals in the league this season, came off the bench and had more touches of the ball than Hojlund.
Joshua Zirkzee stats vs Southampton
• Minutes played: 37
• Shots: 1
• Chances created: 2
• Touches: 22
• Touches in the opposition box: 4
Rasmus Hojlund stats vs Southampton
• Minutes played: 53
• Shots: 1
• Chances created: 2
• Touches: 17
• Touches in the opposition box: 3
The former Bologna striker made an impact when he came on and held the ball up a lot better than Hojlund managed in the first half.
Amorim has a big decision to make up front when United take on Brighton this weekend.
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