Paul Scholes says he is slightly worried about the prospect of Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelof starting in Manchester United’s trip to face Sevilla next week, while he has criticised Wout Weghorst again.
The Red Devils appeared to be in complete control of their Europa League quarter-final, first-leg tie against the Spanish side on Thursday night, with Marcel Sabitzer giving the hosts a two-goal lead at Old Trafford.
But United were undone by two late own goals and will now take a 2-2 draw to Seville, while Erik ten Hag was handed a selection nightmare after Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez both picked up injuries – the latter looked especially serious.
While Scholes is still confident United will have enough in reserve to beat Sevilla in the second leg, a centre-back pairing of Maguire and Lindelof does make him a little nervous.
Speaking on BT Sport after the match, he said: ‘I think if it’s Lindelof and Maguire that worries me slightly just because they’ve not played games.
‘I think they’ll get through it, I think they’ll be fine, centre-half is a position where you can tend to get through it.
‘I think forward-wise we’ll be okay, Bruno Fernandes [who is suspended] will be a miss but you have to remember Christian Eriksen is just on his way back so that’s him definitely starting, that’s the creativity in there.
‘I think they can score goals there, if Anthony Martial is fit and ready to go. Antony was lively again tonight. They can still go there and win but you have to respect Sevilla for what they’ve done in European competition. I’d say at this point it’s a 50/50 game.’
He added: ‘I don’t think missing Marcus Rashford will be as serious as missing Martinez, Bruno and Varane.
‘I think we’ve seen Martial tonight looking really sharp in that first half. I think Antony is looking better with each game he plays. I still expect a little bit more from Jadon Sancho. But I think in that front three there’s still potential to score goals.’
Scholes was also critical of Weghorst’s performance against Sevilla, with the Dutchman coming off the bench with half-an-hour remaining.
An excellent burst to the byline by Facundo Pellistri saw the Uruguayan pull the ball back into the six-yard box, where Weghorst collected it, but the Burnley loanee ignored both a quick shot and an early lay-off to the well-placed Anthony Elanga before passing the ball back to Tyrell Malacia on the edge of the box, who fired wide.
Scholes felt a more clinical striker would have done more with the opportunity, saying: ‘I think he should turn and shoot. When you look back at who’s on the edge of the box, Malacia, I don’t think he’s somebody you think is going to score.
‘I think a proper centre-forward, a centre-forward with real quality [shoots]. If that’s a Martial, he’s either back-heeling it and trying to score or he turns quickly and gets his shot off quickly and scores. He’s five or six yards out!’
MORE : Erik ten Hag explains Manchester United triple substitution and hints at Marcus Rashford return
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