
Manchester United
Premier League • England
Scholes, Ferdinand debate Man Utd title chances after ‘massive shift in mentality’ instilled by Ten Hag

Paul Scholes is considering Man Utd as title challengers after their win in the derby against Man City, but former teammate Rio Ferdinand is still being cautious.
Man Utd have moved one point behind second-placed City in the Premier League table after beating them 2-1 in the Manchester derby. Despite going behind to a Jack Grealish header, United turned things around with goals from Bruno Fernandes and Marcus Rashford.
Things are looking up for Erik ten Hag and his team. Now, one game away from the halfway stage of their season, they are six points off the top of the table.
After the final whistle, former Man Utd defender Ferdinand was asked in the BT Sport studio if Ten Hag’s team had just announced themselves as title challengers.
He responded: “Oh, I’m not going to be getting carried away again. We know how that ends for me. It doesn’t end well for me, that type of thing. So I’m just going to remain calm.
“I’ve had my little excitement in the studio, but listen, you’ve got to take these moments.
“That man there, Casemiro, I love him and again, Rashford, two huge components of this team and everything that’s good about Manchester United at the moment.
“But the spirit shown today. I’ve spoken about being fragile in recent months, recent years at this Man Utd team.
“Going 1-0 down against a team like Manchester City in the past, they would have absolutely folded. Today, they gathered their concentration, they remained calm.
“Come back into the game and they’ve come out with three points. That’s a massive, massive shift in mentality in this squad now and it only bodes well for the future.”
Scholes then added: “Yeah, it’s a big win. I still think it’s a little bit early to say we’re in a title race.
“As the manager said before the game, you’re looking at March, April really. If you’re still in that position then yeah, great.
“I still question whether Man Utd have the squad to really compete at the league title level. But we have to say that’s progress for them.”
Scholes says Man Utd ARE in title race
But when things had died down a bit later in the coverage, Scholes decided to throw United’s hat into the ring for a title challenge.
Scholes said: “We’ve learnt that they can beat a big team when the pressure’s on, when they needed to.
“You asked Rio the question about, are they in the title race before. I think you have to say they are.
“I think if they keep people fit, they’re one point behind City now. And City to me are still the favourites, they’re still the best team in this league.
“It’s OK winning games now. It’s like we said before – March, April time, it’s so hard to win those games.
“Arsenal are doing really well, they look a really good team. Injuries could affect them and inexperience. They’ve got a manager who hasn’t won a league title, they’ve got players who haven’t won trophies really.
“Look, there’s 20 games to go. Man Utd, City 20 games, Arsenal 21 games. There’s so far to go in this. This could change by February.”
For Ferdinand, there was a noticeable feeling at Old Trafford connecting the fans and the players. The ex-England international, although still hesitant about the chances of United finishing above City, credited Ten Hag for their rising confidence.
Ferdinand concluded: “They’re closing the gap slightly, yeah, but I still think there’s a major way to go. I think the gulf between the clubs is still huge.
“Don’t let this result take the way you’re looking at things and become unrealistic. Man Utd have still got a way to go but they’re on the right road now.
“And I think Man Utd fans, I felt something in this ground today that I hadn’t felt for a long time. There was a belief. There was a connection between the players on the pitch and the fans again, because there’s a committed team out there that are willing to fight, who won’t fold under pressure, they won’t fold when there’s a bit of a bad spell in the game.
“That can only be good for the future of this team. But the manager, I think he has to have huge compliments right now because he’s building a team that are up for the fight.”
Man Utd are next in action on Wednesday when they visit Crystal Palace.