Man United legend right to criticise Louis van Gaal
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Paul Scholes has criticised current Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal, claiming his former side don’t play with the flair or entertainment value they were once famous for.
Speaking to the BBC, Scholes said: “It’s now a team you wouldn’t want to play against because they’re tightly organised.
“But it seems Van Gaal doesn’t want players to beat men and it’s probably not a team I’d have enjoyed playing in.”
Responding in his weekly press conference, the United boss said: “Sticks and stones will break my bones, words will not hurt me.”
Elaborating on this playground parable, he added: ” I don’t agree with his opinion, I always take risks. Manchester United is always entertaining.”
Despite the Dutchman’s protestations, it is easier to side with the former midfielder.
The Red Devils have only scored 15 goals this season, less than any other team in the top six, and have played out three 0-0 draws in all competitions.
Furthermore, the 62 goals scored in Van Gaal’s first season was the lowest in ten seasons for the 13-time Premier League winners, with the side somehow managing to be less prolific than the days under David Moyes.
If they carry on at the scoring rate they have shown during this campaign, they will break that record again.
The 64-year-old gaffer also seems to struggle in bringing the best out of flair players, take Memphis Depay for example.
After a blistering season at PSV Eindhooven where he scored 25 times and provided five assists, much was expected of the 21-year-old winger at Old Trafford.
However he has failed to deliver so far in his burgeoning United career, scoring only once in eight Premier League appearances.
Depay is averaging 1.4 dribbles a game currently compared to 2.7 in his last campaign at PSV, highlighting how his boss is reining in on flair players being allowed to run at defences.
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