Paul Scholes criticized Manchester United as a “coachless” team under Erik ten Hag as the club legend spent almost two minutes criticizing their performance after Sunday’s 3-0 defeat against Spurs.
Ten Hag is under the microscope once again as United were routinely dismantled by Ange Postecoglou’s impressive Spurs team, leaving them 12th in the league table.
A torrid start to the new Premier League season has seen United again fail to show their title credentials with three dull defeats raising further questions over Ten Hag’s future.
The Dutchman began his third consecutive campaign as United manager after winning the FA Cup gave him a career lifeline and another big summer spend was expected to bring about an improvement.
INEOS bosses handed Ten Hag a recruitment fund during the off-season and spent more than £180m to bring in five new first-team players in a pledge to support the Dutchman.
Erik ten Hag (left) oversaw another disappointing defeat as Man United were beaten by Spurs on Sunday.
Ten Hag is facing increasing scrutiny after a poor start to the season following another intense summer of recruiting.
Former Man United star Paul Scholes fuming over club’s ‘uncoached’ appearance under Ten Hag
Another major recruitment window means the 53-year-old has spent more than £600m on new players since joining the club in 2022, but Scholes believes players appear “dead” under Ten Hag.
“The players seemed dead today, they seemed flat, they seemed not to know what to do and there is no enthusiasm for football,” Scholes told Optus Sport.
“You don’t know how they are going to play, how they are going to approach the games, are they going to play on the counterattack, are they going to try to sit deep, are they going to try to have all the possession? We have no idea.
‘Of course we should (know for the sake of knowing). They look like a soccer team without a coach.
“I think whatever happens, happens and he (Ten Hag) just accepts it.” It’s not (acceptable) it’s been two or so years and from the first week Postecoglou came in we probably knew what Tottenham was going to do and we are doing it to this day.
“We are two and a bit years away and it is a team without a coach and that can only come from training camp.
Scholes believes Spurs manager Ange Postecoglou has developed a faster style of play than Ten Hag
Ten Hag and his coaching team discuss tactics as United try to find a way back against Spurs
‘They don’t know what they want. Some of the positions people take on the field are crazy sometimes. Stop listening to excuses, get on that training pitch and find a way to play.
‘Just give us something. He (Ten Hag) really praised Postecoglou for his way of playing, why don’t you try something like that? Scholes added.
Ten Hag signed a new contract with the club in the summer after receiving support to continue, but has only managed two wins in six Premier League games this season.
Meanwhile, former United striker Michael Owen also joined Scholes in criticizing his former team and told the club to stop giving Ten Hag money to spend on overinflated transfers.