PAUL SCHOLES HAS branded Manchester United’s 2-1 defeat at Fenerbahce “depressing”, and says his former club will continue to struggle for the next two years.
Goals from former Sunderland pair Moussa Sow and Jeremain Lens condemned United to defeat in Istanbul, where Wayne Rooney bagged a stunning late consolation goal.
The defeat leaves United third in their Europa League Group A, one point behind Fener and Feyenoord, and continues their dismal start to the season under manager Jose Mourinho.
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Scholes believes United, who finished fifth in the Premier League last season, are set for another two years of struggles until Mourinho has had time to shape the squad.
“We’ve had quite a painful three years really and I think the next 18 to 24 months are going to be very similar,” he told BT Sport.
Until this manager has three or four transfer windows to really get the team that he wants, I think this team in two years will be completely unrecognisable. They’ve shown the last few years they can’t win the league with this squad.
“It’s been depressing for a couple of years. I think there’s three or four better teams than Man Utd in the Premier League. They’re just about good enough to challenge for fourth.”
Sow scored a spectacular overhead kick after just two minutes, before Lens’ second-half free-kick left the hosts in complete control.
Scholes says United were “bullied” by Dick Advocaat’s side in a hostile atmosphere in Turkey.
United were rattled really, they couldn’t handle it,” he added. “For most of the game they bullied Utd. With the two centre-backs it looked like they were going to concede goals all day long.
“Great strike from Wayne, of course it was, but they huffed and puffed again like in the first half. They had moments where you thought they looked sharp and you thought they were creating chances, but they rarely looked like scoring a goal… One shot on target, it’s not enough.”
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Scholes predicts two more years of 'painful' Man United under Mourinho
PAUL SCHOLES HAS branded Manchester United’s 2-1 defeat at Fenerbahce “depressing”, and says his former club will continue to struggle for the next two years.
Goals from former Sunderland pair Moussa Sow and Jeremain Lens condemned United to defeat in Istanbul, where Wayne Rooney bagged a stunning late consolation goal.
The defeat leaves United third in their Europa League Group A, one point behind Fener and Feyenoord, and continues their dismal start to the season under manager Jose Mourinho.
Scholes believes United, who finished fifth in the Premier League last season, are set for another two years of struggles until Mourinho has had time to shape the squad.
“We’ve had quite a painful three years really and I think the next 18 to 24 months are going to be very similar,” he told BT Sport.
“It’s been depressing for a couple of years. I think there’s three or four better teams than Man Utd in the Premier League. They’re just about good enough to challenge for fourth.”
Sow scored a spectacular overhead kick after just two minutes, before Lens’ second-half free-kick left the hosts in complete control.
Scholes says United were “bullied” by Dick Advocaat’s side in a hostile atmosphere in Turkey.
“Great strike from Wayne, of course it was, but they huffed and puffed again like in the first half. They had moments where you thought they looked sharp and you thought they were creating chances, but they rarely looked like scoring a goal… One shot on target, it’s not enough.”
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depressing Jeremain Lens Moussa Sow Paul Scholes Premier League Soccer Struggle Fenerbahçe Manchester United