Former Manchester United midfielder Paul Scholes has criticised the performance of Antonio Valencia and Daley Blind in the derby.
Manchester United were given a reality check in Saturday’s derby as their cross-town rivals Manchester City left Old Trafford taking maximum points off the game. Pep Guardiola managed to maintain his supremacy over his opposite number Jose Mourinho with the Citizens winning the contest 2-1.
Kevin De Bruyne and Kelechi Iheanacho scored within a few minutes of each other, but Zlatan Ibrahimovic pulled one back for the hosts. However, the visitors managed to hold on to their slender lead to pick up three points.
United legend Paul Scholes was extremely displeased with the club’s performance over the weekend, and singled out Valencia and Blind for a bad showing in the derby. The two players had been previously hailed by Mourinho as “successes”.
Speaking to Manchester Evening News, Scholes said:
“Blind is a better defensive midfielder for United than he is a centre-back but he’s been an excellent partner for Eric Bailly so far this season, hence why Chris Smalling is not in the team at the moment yet he’s not won everybody over yet.
“I would rather see Smalling partner Bailly in the long-term.”
Makeshift right-back Valencia too had an off day at the office and was equally criticised by the Old Trafford great.
“As for Valencia, he’s not a right-back. He never will be, regardless of how good his form is at any one time,” added Scholes.
“But Matteo Darmian hasn’t got a sniff yet and there are different questions to ask about whether Timothy Fosu-Mensah is ready to start right there, so it’s a more difficult situation.”
United’s next game is in the Europa League on Thursday when they visit Rotterdam to take on Dutch giants Feyenoord. Mourinho will be hoping for a positive response from the game as he looks to get his team back on the right track.
