Paul Scholes questions David de Geas Man United future after error-strewn display in loss at Sevilla
‘David de Gea has been a fantastic goalkeeper but he is NOT a fantastic footballer’: Paul Scholes questions Spaniard’s Man United future after bad mistakes in 3-0 defeat at Sevilla and says Erik ten Hag wants a player who can ‘play’ from the back’
- Scholes broke his performance against Sevilla and his future at United
- The Spanish ball stopper’s contract expires at the end of the season
- However, Youssef and Nesyri’s goals both came from goalkeeper mistakes
Paul Scholes has questioned David de Gea’s future at Manchester United after a foul-strewn performance in their 3-0 defeat at Sevilla.
The 32-year-old moved from Atletico Madrid to Old Trafford in 2011 and has since made more than 500 appearances for the club.
It is known that the Spanish shot-stopper is about to re-sign, albeit at a reduced salary, as his contract expires at the end of the season.
However, both Youssef and Nesyri’s goals stemmed from errors by the United goalkeeper as he tried to play the ball with his feet.
Scholes broke De Gea’s performance against Sevilla and his future with the Red Devils.
Paul Scholes has questioned David de Gea’s future at Man United after a performance riddled with errors
Both Youssef and Nesyri’s goals came from mistakes by the 32-year-old Spanish shot stopper
The former midfielder told BT Sport: “You have to question the goalkeeper, especially tonight. Erik ten Hag will eventually want to play from behind.
“David de Gea has been a great goalkeeper, but he’s not a great footballer. We saw the pass he played to Harry Maguire.
“Look, it’s not a bad pass and I know Harry Maguire wanted it, but you have to read the situation, read what’s happening in the stadium and it’s not a place [to do it].
Harry Maguire wants the ball and I don’t know why he wants the ball. As I said before, there is only one central defender in world football who can receive the ball well with his back to play.’
“Regardless of whether the manager wants him to play, read the situation,” added Scholes, 48. “He had to read what was going on.
“You have to read the situation and what is happening. At Manchester City, Pep [Guardiola] would probably say “Go ahead, hit it up high”.
“They fell into the trap of making those passes and Sevilla were aggressive to get to the ball.
“I think he made the whole team nervous! The question is: does he fit into Erik ten Hag’s philosophy?’
Scholes broke De Gea’s performance against Sevilla and his future with the Red Devils
However, Ten Hag jumped into De Gea’s defence, adding: “He’s the one with the most clean sheets in the Premier League, and that shows he’s a very capable goalkeeper.”
Ten Hag continued: ‘We have to do better, that is the requirement. We were not calm, not calm.
“We didn’t beat the press, when you do that there’s so many spaces behind it, and it was obvious how to do it at the beginning.
“We lost the battle, they had more passion, more desire, more willingness. This was a great opportunity, a great opportunity, to win something and we gave it away – we have to blame ourselves. It’s gone, we can’t change it.’
