Paul Scholes recently criticised Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim over his comments on Kobbie Mainoo
Paul Scholes’ swipe at Ruben Amorim is just his latest outburst aimed at a Manchester United boss. The United legend tore into the manager’s comments about youngster Kobbie Mainoo, who was an unused substitute during their draw with West Ham on Thursday.
The 20-year-old midfielder is still waiting for his first league start this season, clocking a mere 171 minutes of Premier League action. Yet, Amorim recently hailed the England starlet as a key player in his squad.
“I see him as a starter like the other players,” Amorim said last Friday. “I just have to make a choice and then in the end, it’s not been Kobbie. In the future, I don’t know. Again, I always think the same thing with Casemiro. [He] was not playing and then he plays. I just want to win games. I don’t care who is playing.”
Scholes fired back at Amorim on Instagram: “Bulls***. The kid is being ruined, not being played in a team that can’t control a game of football. Hate seeing home grown players leave but it’s probably best for him now, enough is enough.”
He has since deleted his post about Mainoo. However, the 51-year-old’s comments have been known to seal the fate of United bosses, with Amorim’s predecessors often getting the axe not long after Scholes delivered his verdict.
The pundit suggested that Erik ten Hag’s tenure at Manchester United was on the brink after a crushing 4-0 defeat to Crystal Palace in May 2024, despite the team clinching the FA Cup just weeks later. Ten Hag was handed a new contract, but the Dutch gaffer only managed to hold onto his position until October before Ruben Amorim took over.
“Tonight almost felt like a final nail in the coffin,” Scholes admitted after the Palace loss. “There was a lack of know-how in the team, a lack of effort, going to a team like Crystal Palace, who are a good team and doing well, but Manchester United shouldn’t be going there and [losing] 4-0.
“I felt for a while he [Ten Hag] might get another year and work for a club that has calmed down a little by the new owners but it doesn’t feel like that now.”
Scholes had previously been equally outspoken during Ralf Rangnick’s stint as interim manager in the 2021/22 season. Rangnick was initially brought in with the intention of moving into a consultancy role at the end of the season, but he opted to depart the club that summer.
Reflecting on Rangnick’s reign following a draw with Southampton in February 2022, Scholes said: “One team have got a proper Coach, the other team has a sporting director.”
After United’s Champions League exit the subsequent month, Scholes didn’t hold back about Rangnick’s role. “How [Ralf Rangnick] was chosen to be manager of this club for six months, I don’t know. Getting a proper coach for this team is a massive thing,” he told BT Sport.
“There is some real talent in this squad. The very first thing this club needs to do to get anywhere near winning the league again is getting in a proper coach who works for this team.”
However, Amorim can find solace in Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s suggestion in October that the manager will be assessed after three years. As it stands, the Red Devils have suffered just one loss in their last eight league matches and currently occupy eighth position in the table ahead of Monday night’s clash with Wolves.