Paul Scholes claimed Manchester United performed as awfully as possible for 80 minutes against Southampton - despite winning 3-1.
The Red Devils needed a 12-minute Amad Diallo hat-trick to spare their blushes at Old Trafford on Thursday, with the youngster's first goal coming after 82 minutes.
Southampton were dangerous for large swathes of the game as the hosts struggled to contain Kamaldeen Sulemana, Tyler Dibling, and Mateus Fernandes.
Scholes felt that his former side had been outclassed and that manager Ruben Amorim must be internally seething at the performance.
'For 80 minutes that's as bad as a performance as you'll see, especially against a team who were bottom of the league,' Scholes told TNT Sports.
'For 80 minutes they (Southampton) were so much better than Manchester United, passing the ball, technically, tactically. Amad Diallo was the one bright spark.
'I still think the manager will be disappointed with this performance, against a team who struggle to score goals and concede so many. Amad is the only one who can take credit out of this game tonight.
'I thought they were a lot better tactically and technically than Manchester United. Man United were really poor.
'The control when it came in to Rasmus Hojlund so poor at times, he kept giving it back to them.
'Southampton were on a different level. It's solely because of Amad Diallo that United won the game, rest of the players, [take a] long hard look at yourself.'
Saints hadn't scored from a corner all season but went into the break 1-0 up after their set-piece was accidentally bumped home by Manuel Ugarte.
The visitors could have doubled their lead when Sulemana struck from close range early in the second half but Matthijs de Ligt blocked the shot.
Diallo managed to inspire the turnaround and take home the player of the match award.
United jumped three places to the lofty heights of 12th in the Premier League after 21 games while Southampton remain bottom with just six points, the worst record of any team at this stage of the season.
'Much better than Manchester United (for most of the game), last 15 minutes we were like innocent kids,' a furious Saints boss Ivan Juric said.
'Not good mentality. To win this game you can't play 75 minutes. For the last 15 minutes you have to be more malicious, more evil to win the game.'
Yibadelrst
0
M U nowadays play like shittyyyAsssholes
KehindeSeun
0
This man has understand that sometimes in football you just have to win in the ugly way. All that united need is positive results at this time of the season not beautiful football.
guy this man is making allot of sense and listen to the details ok
pocabemoy
0
PS deserves the Manager post at United
mupbcklmry
1
scholsy forget the game he collect red card against Fulham in 2008
Heobekltu
2
This man has understand that sometimes in football you just have to win in the ugly way. All that united need is positive results at this time of the season not beautiful football.
muhceilrst
0
actually at some points they looked like the were struggling to breathe,the Southampton team looked much united and tactical way too far than united though Garnacho missed up a golden chances
Cambklmrsy
0
I Agree with PS , very very poor Game , I think RA must have / know his first Eleven by now and keep playing those players he really Trust rather than making unnessary changes , we need to be ruthless in the second half of the season , need to win and dominate games now , Management need to support Amorim for at least 2 players . wake up guys next game Brighton .
Denabcmpsu
0
RASMUS HOJLUND IS AS GOOD OR POOR A PLAYER IN MY CANDID OPINION AND A BIG LIABILITY TO THE TEAM IN MOST GAMES , WITH HIS GLARING INABILITY TO HOLD , CONTROL AND PASS BALL WITH ACCURACY, AND HIS PENCHANT FOR SOLICITING SOFT CALLS FOR DRAWING FOULS , AND NOTORIOUSLY LOOSING THOSE CALLS AND COSTING HIS TEAM ON TOO MANY OCCASIONS, RATHER THAN USING HIS BULKY FRAME TO MUSCLE THROUGH OPPOSITION DEFENCE AND CREATE PROBLEMS ......... HE NEEDS TO BE MORE DIRECT , MORE AGGRESSIVE AND PURPOSEFUL WITH HIS PERFORMANCES AND CONTRIBUTION TO THE TEAM , IF HE DESIRES TO BECOME THE BRIGHT SPARK THAT HE LOOKS CAPABLE OF BECOMING WITH THE POTENTIAL THAT HE HAS ...... HE CAN BECOME ANOTHER CR7,OR BETTER , ONLY IF HIS OVERALL ATHLETIC BALANCE , WORK RATE AND WORK ETHICS CAN BE DRASTICALLY IMPROVED UPON ......
Boom07
5
It does not matter how good you are on your best day, what matters is how good you are on your worst day. If Man U playing a bad game win 3-1 this is progress and everyone should be happy with the 3 points. Where are the Players Man U was gonna Sign?
ksantos
0
you lie . they were pin behind
Winning after being pin down shows you that character of wanting to win it more, I'm not saying they were better.
Viwcelmnyz
0
Very true, but they were also the team that wanted to win more Scholsy
you lie . they were pin behind
Viwcelmnyz
2
I don't know how they won this game. shit for 80 munites
KingCarrot
3
As long as you get 3 points in the bag, who cares how you play? will Scholes complain if Man Utd plays well but lose 3 points?
ksantos
4
Very true, but they were also the team that wanted to win more Scholsy
banaclops
0
these so call legend always have something negative to say.....like at their time they didn't play badly hame before.
ola 97
0
The moment the commentator said Saints are the only team that hasn't scored from a corner kick, I new Manchester United was going to give them the goal. It's the only team helping others brake their jinx
Emchi
0
Scholes, you criticism is becoming boring.
Hoadklruyz
2
these kinds of things happen all the time in football where team way below the table give big team at the top challenge and deliver an unexpected performance
ZamKhan
1
Unpopular Opinion: Harry Maguire came on and changed the game #IYKYK
Shollay304
6
Amad's Hat trick makes people forget the heroic display from Onana that helps us keep the margin at 1 nil. If Man Utd had drawn d match, Onana would hv been named man of the match.. Even though we played nonsense for good 80 mins, happy for the win