Paul Scholes has questioned Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag's decision to substitute Jadon Sancho with Fred during yesterday's 1-1 draw with Chelsea, describing the call as 'strange'.
Ten Hag's side controlled the early stages of the clash at Stamford Bridge on Saturday, but failed to take advantage, with both Marcus Rashford and Antony spurning first half chances for the Red Devils.
Their early dominance was counted by a 35th substitution from Graham Potter who replaced Marc Cucurella with Mateo Kovacic, and it helped Chelsea get back in the game.
The tactical battle between the two coaches continued into the second half, when Tan Hag then hooked Jadon Sancho and brought on Fred. However, former United ace Scholes feels the change had a negative effect on the team, notably restricting Bruno Fernandes' role in the game.
Talking on Premier League Productions Scholes said: ‘Today they were good for half a game they were really good and probably deserved to win the game,’ ‘You think of Chelsea being at home, did they do enough to win the game I really don’t think they did.
‘The subs were a little bit strange today. I thought Fred coming on when he did for Sancho didn’t really help the game. I thought Fernandes lost a bit of control of the game he had to come out to the left-hand side and wasn’t in the game as much.’
Chelsea eventually took the lead late in the second half through a Jorginho penalty, but United rescued a point thanks to a Casemiro header in stoppage time.
However, Scholes believes his former team must learn how to beat their top six rivals away from home, if Ten Hag wants to compete at the top of the Premier League.
Adding: ‘I think there’s progress going to a big team and getting a point is progress. You’d like to win those games still, of course you would but really looking back on the game they should have won it.
‘There will be bigger tests ahead, going to Anfield going to Arsenal, going to these better teams. It’s now a big test for them to take that next level.
‘I think they’ve sorted out problems at home those first two games were disastrous as we know, but they’ve sorted the problems out at home, they look dominant it’s that away form which I think that manager wants them to be.’
The draw leaves United a point behind the Blues in the Premier League, with Chelsea still occupying the fourth Champions League spot in the table.
zoeadikloy
0
I don't agree with the noises of these pundits, who are afraid of becoming coaches. How can a person who view things on the screen inform the on field coach what to do? If pundits know better than coaches, why are not appointed coaches? Pundits are a bunch of noisemakers, that's why I don't even respect them.
Cr7GOATofFootball
0
this Sancho need to be benched, he can't shoot . He's not improving at all. This Sancho is just too slow and lazy, These are the players Ten hag was benching CR7 for. it's really absurd
Ronaldo must start instead of sancho
nisdilmuyz
3
let him try this guy's ganacho or elenga to replace this sancho is so sluggish
Kiwdeikuz
0
Sancho will regret it if January comes when he didn’t improve and I think Rashford and Sancho are in danger in near future mark my ,Sancho needs time on bench
True because he is sorting out all the down falls,we don’t have enough options in the squad,Erik Ten Hag is the man for United,in two years time we will see a trophy
DonJB
0
Sancho will regret it if January comes when he didn’t improve and I think Rashford and Sancho are in danger in near future mark my ,Sancho needs time on bench
Sure they will be in a great danger if they could not deliver what ETH demanded look at Maguire now ETH is a man with integrity and principles like Pep Guardiola
kobacdelmp
1
I've said this before Sancho looks like a scum at the moment he is not the one we kno from Dortmund Rashford should shitch on the side Sancho on the bench Ronaldo up front if we looking to doing something good for the team🤷♂️
Kiwdeikuz
1
Sancho will regret it if January comes when he didn’t improve and I think Rashford and Sancho are in danger in near future mark my ,Sancho needs time on bench
Kiwdeikuz
1
Ten Hag is the man on mission for us
cazcdnpstu
1
I think Elanga played better yesterday than sancho
mimcdlost
4
this Sancho need to be benched, he can't shoot . He's not improving at all. This Sancho is just too slow and lazy, These are the players Ten hag was benching CR7 for. it's really absurd
Naueilo
1
scholes says that because Sancho is an English player, other Wise what has done apart from misplaced passes.
fobdeilnsu
1
pls Scholes shut up. we dosnt have much options that's why and sancho has not been at his best. so there is a need for dynamism in the game. Also when does United during the era of Scholes goes to Stamford Bridge and be winning. he is talking like they have been winning in Stamford Bridge during their time. go an check the records and you will see that it's only on one occasion that Scholes era were able to beat Chelsea at Stamford. so what is he talking about ETH is nursing the team now he needs patience. And besides he didn't see how we out played Chelsea. had it been that we are more clinical in front of goal we for win the game.
AndreSmart
5
What did Sancho do? was he not playing like he just bought Nike Air Force 1 & don't want to crease it. Bullshit shut up Scholes
yetaklrsty
2
Yesterday's match was played on tactical grounds and both coaches applied their football knowledge to cancel each other's tactics out.
eggosa91
4
this is what I comes to my mind when I hear the name sañcho 😂👇👇
Philllong
1
One thing I needed frm ten hag is to believe in those young guys too and give them opportunities to showcase their talents ….if Elanga or ganarcho replace Sancho bfor d half time am sure we would have win d game
Sizadnprt
2
ETH late change course us the game yesterday we should have won the game Erickson Sancho and Rashford all of them should have been subbed off early but he kept waiting
1ngram4
2
It was so obvious we needed an extra body in midfield to track Kovacic
VIKSSON
1
I agree but there's no squad depth so these are the only options he has at the moment
Chidon_Sports
1
Erick ten Hag? wake you a clown All football admin
Fattywap
4
Elanga over Sancho
sodampsyz
3
this so called man u legend are something else that give man u problem
hamzeeno
4
What did Sancho play yesterday? nothing at all please allow the coach to do his thing
Vucdiotuz
1
Nice game
Zamdklnos
3
why Man utd is up to this point is their former player always has a say .....ROY KEANE AS A COACH, SCHOLES AS ASSISTANT ......
pablobasilica
3
my problem with all this England guys is that non if can make a good coach yet they can't allow the o es doing it to do there thing in peace.
pablobasilica
3
thus Scholes of a guy I'm begging to question his mindset seriously. the way he talk this days hmmm
truthisbitter
1
Tenhag on the wheels!!!
plueto
2
Let Ten Haag do his things, y’all turned him down when he wanted coaching staffs
Fewbclpsty
1
Find a club...pundit n coach 2 different things...😂
_ibrxhim11_
2
took too long to bring elanga