Scholes: Bruno should consider Saudi; Sir Ferguson‘d have criticized me harshly for similar remarks

Recently, Manchester United legend Paul Scholes stated on the podcast "The Good, The Bad & The Football" that Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes should leave European football.

Last Wednesday, Manchester United suffered a heavy 1-4 defeat to Como in the Champions League. After the match, Fernandes criticized the team for not applying man-marking pressure against the Italian side, believing it allowed the opponents to gradually gain confidence.

When asked if there was a problem with Carrick's tactical arrangements, the 32-year-old midfielder replied, "That's something for the manager and coaching staff to decide, not for me to comment on."

Fernandes was excluded from the starting lineup by Carrick in last weekend's match against AFC Bournemouth. Now, Scholes has strongly criticized his remarks, calling them "unforgivable."

Scholes stated on "The Good, The Bad & The Football" podcast: "I think what Bruno Fernandes said last week was unforgivable."

"Wherever he goes from now on, will he still be trusted as captain?"

"I think he probably needs to leave European football, go straight to Saudi Arabia, and get out of the way."

"I don't think any manager or coaching staff member could trust him after something like that happened."

Since joining Manchester United from Sporting CP in 2020, Fernandes has been one of the team's standout performers. However, his form has declined this season.

Last season, Fernandes set the Premier League single-season assists record with 21, but this season he has provided only one assist, coming in the match against Ipswich Town. Of his four goals this season, three came against the newly promoted side, and one was scored against newly promoted Champions League participant Sabah.

Scholes' podcast co-host, former Manchester United player Nicky Butt, stated that Fernandes' recent remarks may have damaged his standing at the club.

Butt said: "We always praised his ability. For the past 12 or 13 years, he was the only player who would stand up and say 'I know what it means to play for this club, I'm good enough to perform well, I'm willing to take responsibility for the team, and I will lead us forward.'"

"'I'll score goals, I'll create chances. I won't leave, I'll stay, I'll keep fighting.' But he destroyed everything with one interview. It's so foolish."

This is not the first time Scholes has criticized Fernandes' comments on the podcast.

In the first round this season, Manchester United suffered a shock 0-2 away defeat to Hull City. After the match, Fernandes criticized the team's performance, and Scholes immediately told him to "keep quiet."

Following that match, Fernandes stated that Manchester United made "the same mistakes as last season" in away games.

He added: "Every away game, we give the opponents too much possession. In the first 20 minutes, our goalkeeper had the most touches."

"We need to press harder and play more aggressively. We also need to keep improving on set pieces and stop conceding goals like that. Against these types of teams, they're always waiting for such opportunities."

At the time, Scholes not only criticized Fernandes for speaking publicly despite his poor individual performance but also questioned what mistakes he was referring to.

Scholes said: "I'd like to know what mistakes he's talking about."

"What mistakes did the team make? Especially given his own performance on the pitch, I think he should keep quiet. His own performance wasn't great either."

Scholes also criticized Luke Shaw. Earlier, Luke Shaw had stated that Manchester United could have been better prepared for the Hull City match, particularly regarding the opponent's set-piece threat.

Scholes believes that Luke Shaw's comments also undermined the authority of Carrick and his coaching staff.

He said: "Luke Shaw always says something, and those words essentially blame the coaching staff and question the manager. If your players say things like that, you'd definitely think: 'What the hell is going on?' You'd call him in for a talk on Monday morning."

"These words aren't just about respect. You talk about fear for the manager, and what they've said is actually demeaning the manager and the coaching staff."

"If we had dared to say to Sir Alex Ferguson back then, 'We weren't well prepared enough,' that would have been outrageous. You would have been called in immediately, and he might have singled you out in front of the entire team."

Manchester United confirmed on October 27 that despite the team's poor recent form, which has seen them drop to 16th in the Premier League table, just one point above the relegation zone, manager Carrick, who is under intense media scrutiny, will be given the opportunity to turn the season around.

This Saturday, Manchester United will face Chelsea away. Carrick is desperate for his players to secure three points and end their embarrassing run of not winning a league match since beating Ipswich Town at the end of August.