Scholes ‘expects more’ from United midfielder Schweinsteiger

Scott Anderson
Bastian Schweinsteiger: Looking forward to working under Jose Mourinho

Bastian Schweinsteiger: Looking forward to working under Jose Mourinho

Paul Scholes has criticised Manchester United midfielder Bastian Schewinsteiger – suggesting he needs to contribute more going forward. 

Schweinsteiger, a £6.5 million signing from Bayern Munich this summer, provided the cross that forced Troy Deeney to convert the ball into his own on Saturday, giving Louis Van Gaal’s side a 2-1 win over Watford.

The World Cup winner has played in every Premier League and Champions League game this season, but is still yet to provide a goal or assist.

And Scholes appears less than impressed with the German’s contribution going forward. “You expect more from Schweinsteiger, a player who’s won the World Cup and the Champions League,” Scholes told ESPN.

“The biggest art as a midfield player is to find space – not in your back four or left-back position – [but] in the centre of the park where it’s most congested, and contribute to your forward players.

Scholes added: “[There are] too many passes before getting into the final third, which is why the forwards like Wayne Rooney have struggled. They don’t get the service.

“The two central midfielders play 10 yards behind the centre-halves and play easy passes.

“I don’t mind that, getting a bit of space if you’re going to play it forward or hit a long pass, but he takes too many touches and he’s constantly coming back inside.

“Schweinsteiger claps a backpass to the goalkeeper and he plays every week, so the manager must be happy with the way they play.”

Despite Scholes criticism, United are second in the Premier League and also top of their Champions League group.

However, the former Manchester United midfielder does not have confidence in their title challenge.

“Are they good enough to go on and win the league? I’m not 100 per cent convinced – I think Manchester City and Arsenal would have to struggle with injuries and form.

“Defensively they’re brilliant, and that’s because they’re not contributing going forward.”