‘There’s no quality’ – Scholes blasts Man United

The former England international, who spent his entire career at Old Trafford, said the Red Devils played it too safe in Moscow

Former Manchester United midfielder Paul Scholes has blasted his former club, suggesting that they did not display any quality or attacking movement in the 1-1 draw away to CSKA Moscow in Wednesday’s Champions League night.

Louis van Gaal’s side went 1-0 down in the first half after Anthony Martial’s handball led to a penalty for the Moscow club, and though David de Gea managed to save Roman Eremenko’s spot-kick, Seydou Doumbia was on hand to net the rebound.

Martial went on to atone for his error, levelling the scores with a second-half header to give United a point.

But Scholes, who twice won the competition with the Old Trafford side, was unimpressed by the display, suggesting that there was “no quality” on show and questioning Van Gaal’s tactical plan.

“You look at the United team, there is no quality, no movement. People are not running,” the former midfielder told BT Sport.

“Is it the way they are told to play?”

Scholes also took aim at United’s attacking midfielders, suggesting that the line of three behind Wayne Rooney did not do enough to provide England’s leading goalscorer with service or attacking movement to work with.

“It’s all safety playing across the pitch. I can’t remember a pass in to Rooney. There is no movement,” he continued.

“You’ve got midfield players who can run – Ander Herrera, Jesse Lingaard, Anthony Martial – stick the ball into Rooney and run but there’s not one of them even thinking of running.”