Scholes warns Man Utd fans to get used to Mourinho’s style

Oli Fisher
Paul Scholes

Paul Scholes has insisted that Manchester United fans must put up with Jose Mourinho’s style of football, as the days of all-out attack are over.

Mourinho has become visibly angry in recent weeks as critics repeatedly accuse the Portuguese boss of playing a negative style of football.

Red Devils legend Scholes has weighed in on the debate, insisting supports must get used to the more pragmatic style Mourinho has deployed.

“We’d all like to see brilliant attacking football, waves after waves of attack, but I don’t think this team is capable of that. That’s not the way this manager does it,” Scholes told BT Sport.

“He’s first and foremost a defensive coach. He wants to setup in a way that will stop the other team playing and winning games. He’s doing that.

“We have to accept his style of football, as many clubs have done. He’s very successful at doing it. United have to challenge for the league, over the last four years they haven’t, and this season they’ve won a lot of games. OK, it’s not been brilliant football, but I’m just happy they’re winning games.

“They’re in a position where they’ve brought a manager in to ultimately win the league. For four years the club hasn’t really been in a position to determine how they win it.”

Scholes also questioned Untied striker Romelu Lukaku, insisting the striker should have snatched the second penalty despite Mourinho’s demands that Daley Blind take it.

“He has to demand it himself,” Scholes argued. “He might be short on confidence. He should push everyone out of the way and say ‘I’m getting on the score sheet’.”