The ever-cheerful and optimistic Paul Scholes has been discussing Manchester United once again.
The former Old Trafford midfielder can’t quite decide if the side is almost there or in need of a serious financial overhaul, but speaking as a pundit during BT Sport’s coverage of Chelsea v Everton on Saturday evening, he appeared to veering towards the former.
Scholes outlined what he believed to be Manchester United’s best starting eleven based on the current squad, and there was no room for either Marouane Fellaini, Daley Blind, Juan Mata or Henrikh Mkhitaryan.
There was, however, a hypothetical recall for exiled German Bastian Schweinsteiger. Despite his return to training last week, the 32-year-old looks unlikely to ever play for the club again – but Scholes believes the 2014 World Cup-winner’s experience to be vital.
As he himself put it:
“Schweinsteiger must have something to offer the team. He’s got, what? 130 caps for Germany?[That’s] great experience to have around.”
As for the rest of the side, the defence largely picks itself:
“Smalling and Bailly obviously. Luke Shaw when he’s fully fit – he’ll get in the team. Antonio [Valencia] has been a revelation [at right-back].”
while in the midfield, Scholes would do away with the number ten position and have an old colleague pulling the strings from a deeper role in the form of Michael Carrick, with Ander Herrera and Paul Pogba playing ahead of him.
In attack, he is of the opinion that the pace of both Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford is key, but the central striking role is up for grabs…
“I’d have Martial and Rashford – the pace. You have to play those two and then it’s Ibrahimovic or Rooney.”
Quotes from the Mirror
Scholes’ ideal Manchester United lineup would therefore look something like this…
As for whether this current group of players can challenge for the title again, despite saying after the Fenerbahce defeat that it would take another significant period of investment to make them competitive again, the former England international has softened his stance on that opinion:
“I think they could [challenge for the title], but there’s enough talent in that squad to at least be challenging for the top four and I think they eventually will.”
Read More About: ander herrera, anthony martial, Antonio Valencia, bastian schweinsteiger, chris smalling, david de gea, eric bailly, henrikh mkhitaryan, jose mourinho, Juan Mata, luke shaw, Man United, Manchester United, marcus rashford, michael carrick, Paul Pogba, Premier League, Wayne Rooney, zlatan ibrahimovic
