Latest news with #PaulScholes
The Sun
9 hours ago
- Business
- The Sun
‘Flogged to death' – Paul Scholes says Man Utd must KEEP Rasmus Hojlund and reveals how to get the best out of him
PAUL SCHOLES has fired a rocket at Manchester United insisting they must BACK under-fire striker Rasmus Hojlund. The Red Devils legend has thrown his support behind the young Dane, claiming he has the potential to become a top striker at Old Trafford. 2 Scholes also suggested that Hojlund's progress has been hindered by being 'flogged to death' both on the pitch and by critics. The England legend believes the club can get the best out of the 22-year-old by providing him with proper competition. United's No.9 scored 10 goals in all competitions last season, despite the turmoil under both Erik ten Hag and Ruben Amorim. He has attracted interest from top clubs, with SunSport being told that Hojlund's camp has been contacted by Inter Milan regarding a potential move away from Old Trafford. But Scholes says United would be shooting themselves in the foot if they let the striker go. Speaking on The Overlap Fan Debate, he said: "I'd keep Højlund. "I know he's not been great, but he's a 22-year-old kid who has been asked to play centre-forward for Manchester United on his own for the last two years. "He's had to play every week. He's the only one there, and he's a 22-year-old kid. "With the way they play, Man United should have at least three top centre-forwards, and I'd bring him into that group. Rashford to Inter Milan? Man Utd Star Eyes Shock Serie A Move! "Get [Victor] Osimhen and [Viktor] Gyokeres. Hojlund has struggled - like mad of late especially but he's not had the chance to sit down and watch. "If a striker is lacking confidence the manager should sit him down and say, 'Have a look, get a bit of hunger back, a bit of feeling back for the game'. "We all know he has centre-forward qualities — we've seen it. Not enough, I know that. But if he had experience around him. "Say he had Andy Cole and Dwight Yorke around him, it would bring him on so much. He's been absolutely flogged to death. "People forget how young he is. A lot of it is confidence." United forked out £72million to sign Hojlund from Atalanta in 2023, but questions arose early on after a goalless run in the Premier League. The 15th-placed Premier League team are expected to be busy this summer, with INEOS looking to shake things up.
Daily Mail
13 hours ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
Paul Scholes reveals the Man United blueprint to get the best out of Rasmus Hojlund - as he insists £72m striker has been 'flogged to death'
Manchester United must give Rasmus Hojlund another chance and invest heavily to get the best out of him, Paul Scholes has argued. The Old Trafford legend believes Hojlund has shown the necessary qualities but has been 'flogged to death' in an unforgiving two seasons leading the front line 'on his own'. Hojlund has had Joshua Zirkzee for competition but Scholes thinks United must splash out on Victor Osimhen and Viktor Gyokeres to tutor him in the art of goalscoring. United signed Hojlund for £72million from Atalanta in 2023 but he has netted just 26 goals in 95 games - and only three in 2025. Inter Milan have made contact with his camp, Juventus have shown an interest, and Napoli have reportedly proposed him as a makeweight in any deal for Osimhen. 'I'd keep Hojlund,' Scholes insisted on The Overlap Fan Debate, brought to you by Sky Bet. 'I know he's not been great but he's a 22-year-old kid who has been asked to play centre-forward for Manchester United on his own for the last two years. 'He's had to play every week. He's the only one there. He's a 22-year-old kid. With the way they play, Man United should have at least three top centre-forwards, and I'd bring him into that. 'Get Osimhen and Gyokeres. Hojlund, he's struggled like mad of late especially, but he's not got the chance to sit down and watch. 'If a striker is not doing well, no confidence, the manager sits you down and says, "have a look, get a bit of hunger back, a bit of feeling back for the game." 'We all know he has got centre-foward qualities, we've seen it. Not enough, I nknow that, but if he has got experience around him... 'Say he had Andy Cole and Dwight Yorke around him, it'd bring him on so much. He's been absolutely flogged to death. 'People forget how old he is. A lot of it is confidence.' Hojlund has racked up 52 appearances across all competitions and more than 2,000 minutes in the Premier League alone this season. He enjoyed an inspired December, which saw him score twice against both Bodo/Glimt and Viktoria Plzen to help United to comeback victories in the Europa League. But as United's season has decayed in 2025, his form has slipped and his only goals have come against Leicester City, Bournemouth, and Athletic Club. All the same, that has done little to deter interest in Italy, where he scored 10 goals for Atalanta in the 2022-23 season before upping sticks. This summer, he is surely set to either leave Old Trafford or lose his status as United's main striker. Ruben Amorim's side are willing to listen to offers from £25m-£30m upwards.
The Sun
3 days ago
- Business
- The Sun
‘Snap your hands and take it' – Paul Scholes reveals why Man Utd should accept Al-Hilal's £100m bid for Bruno Fernandes
PAUL SCHOLES has urged Manchester United transfer chiefs to "snap" the hands off a £100million offer for Bruno Fernandes. Club captain Fernandes was the team's top scorer and creator with 19 goals and 20 assists across all competitions. 2 2 However, with the Red Devils failing to qualify for European football after finishing 15th in the league and losing the Europa League final, he has been the subject of transfer interest by Al-Hilal. The 30-year-old has admitted he would be willing to leave if the club wanted to "cash in" on him, with the Saudi Pro League outfit's bid reported to be worth around £100m. And Man Utd legend Scholes, 50, believes the club would be mad not to accept the deal given that Fernandes is also a bit of an awkward fit for the 3-4-3 system. Speaking on The Overlap Fan Debate, he said: "They are talking about £100m for him, Man United cannot say no to that. "I know he has been brilliant and carried the team on his back, but where does he actually play, what is his position? "Do you see him as a number 10? Do you see him as a holding midfielder? 'He almost confuses the whole system. I mean, he has been brilliant, don't get me wrong. "But when you're getting £100m for him, you snap your hands and take it.' Former Liverpool star Jamie Carragher also weighed in on the topic. He added: "I've always described Bruno Fernandes as a great talent but not a great player - where does he play? 'Shambles' - Luke Littler savages Man Utd in one word over Bruno Fernandes transfer links and gives Amorim verdict "He's a bit mad in that he just runs all over the place, like a kid in the school yard. "The best player in the school yard doing everything but in a really poor team. "I don't think he's ever had any discipline in those No.10 positions." The £100m could go a long way to helping the club recruit fresh faces to try and move them back up to the top end of the table. However, manager Ruben Amorim believes his talisman could stay at the club to lead the revolution. Speaking to in a press conference during Man Utd's frantic post-season tour of Asia, he said: "We've talked about this many times. You can see by his [Bruno Fernandes'] performances. "You can see by his leadership. 'You can see the passion he has for the game. In difficult moments, Bruno is the guy who takes responsibility. He should do it because he is the captain."
Irish Times
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Times
‘It's not a bad run on paper if you had wins in it': The best quotes of the season
Least romantic: The West Brom fans who looked on at Carrow Road as Norwich City diehard Jack Garwood proposed to his girlfriend Brandis on the pitch at half-time. At which point they started chanting: 'You don't know what you're doing!' Room to Improve: 'I think a new goalkeeper is needed, possibly two centre halves, two centre midfield players and two centre forwards.' Apart from that, Paul Scholes felt Manchester United were well equipped for the season ahead. Shopaholics: 'They've signed any player with a pulse.' READ MORE Andy Cole on Chelsea's rather busy summer transfer work. Rock Bottom: 'I just hope our players have got plenty of Sudocrem because they've had their arses slapped today. I hope they can't sit down for a week – and I hope they run out of Sudocrem.' Michael Birmingham suggesting that his Isthmian League side Horndean were a shower of bums. Home from Home: 'He's loving life there because it reminds him of Milton Keynes. If it wasn't for the sunshine, you would think you were in Buckinghamshire.' A friend of Ivan Toney telling The Sun why he was settling in so well in, eh, Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia like the south of England for Toney. Photograph: Adam Davy/PA Honoured: 'He's an almost person. 'He's almost done this, he's almost won that'. You can't have someone with a knighthood if you're an almost. It's absolutely outrageous.' Royal author Angela Levin stopping just short of congratulating Gareth Southgate on his knighthood. Tunnel vision: 'Every time I think I see the light at the end of the tunnel, it turns out to be an oncoming train.' At least after a miserable season, Ange Postecoglou found some light at the end of the Europa League. Resurrected: 'When I heard the terrible news, I poured myself a small brandy. Being buried alive is quite stressful, really.' Petko Ganchev after his former club, Bulgaria's Arda Kardzhali, held a minute's silence for him having been somewhat mistakenly informed that he had died. If the Queen had ...: 'It's not a bad run on paper if you had wins in it.' Sean Dyche on Everton's five-game winless streak, which earned him the sack. Top Secret: 'Any leaks, whether accidental or intended, can be damaging to colleagues and the wider club.' An email sent to Manchester United employees by the club's owners warning them against leaking information to the media. The email was, eh, leaked. Restless: 'I have been trying to improve my sleep – but it doesn't happen overnight.' Brighton manager Fabian Hürzeler on the stresses of the job turning him in to an insomniac. Bangers: 'Quite a few players need to be dropped, but who do you replace them with? It's like if your Ferrari's not been performing well and you want to use your other car, but that other car is a Ford Focus.' Manchester United old boy Paul Parker managing to offend Ford Focus owners and United's fringe players in fell swoop. Garlic bread!: 'The word over the last month or so with England has been 'freedom'. It's the new buzzword. It's the new garlic bread.' Roy Keane finding his inner Peter Kay. Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim is interviewed by Sky Sports' Roy Keane. Photograph: Bradley Collyer/PA Caught with his pants down: 'My dad kept looking down at me with no trousers on. Mam was in the back with the needle and thread.' Damien Duff on his car journey to the Soccer Writers awards after splitting his trousers. Happily, they were mended by the time he accepted his Personality of the Year gong. Jungle King: 'The food was disgusting. The meat was a piece of wallaby wing. I just couldn't bring myself to eat a wallaby.' Six years after winning I'm A Celebrity, Harry Redknapp still thinks a wallaby is a bird. Salutes: 'If I was born and raised in Shrewsbury I'd probably be this angry as well 'cause it's an absolute cesspit full of inbreds.'; 'Rotherham fans stink of piss, came to the Racecourse and got dismissed.' Apart from that, James McClean got on quite well with away fans this season. Taking it on the chin(s): 'If I had a hundred quid for every chorus of 'you fat b*******' ... you need to take it on the chin – or, in this case, chins.' Hearts' Lawrence Shankland on highly rude terrace chants about his physical shape. Maybe?!: 'We are the worst team maybe in the history of Manchester United.' By the end of the season, Ruben Amorim swapped maybe for deffo. Fate-tempting: 'Real Madrid cannot beat Man City. If they beat City, I will cut off my testicles!' Sergio Aguero left with, well, some pruning to do after Madrid did indeed beat City in the Champions League. Masters of the Universe: 'Liverpool are the best team in the world, never mind anywhere else.' Ally McCoist on Arne Slot's lads not just being the kings of Earth, but Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune too. Long Gone: 'We had to call Anti-Doping Norway and ask, 'is there a hidden camera?'. It was a bit late. Negative tests on both of them.' Norwegian manager Stale Solbakken after players Einar Gundersen and Jorgen Juve were called up for drug tests, 63 and 42 years after they died. In All Modesty: 'I've never seen anyone better. I say it from my heart: the most complete player that's ever existed.' Cristiano Ronaldo on being asked who is the greatest footballer of all time. Yes, yes, he picked himself. Bad Language: 'I learned Spanish for over a year – and then ended up in Italy.' Ben Godfrey on having to learn a whole new lingo.
The Sun
22-05-2025
- Sport
- The Sun
Moment Sir Alex Ferguson rips into Rio Ferdinand just moments after seeing Man Utd legend at Europa League final
SIR Alex Ferguson ripped into Rio Ferdinand as soon as he saw him at the Europa League final. The Manchester United legends were in attendance in Bilbao to watch their former side lose 1-0 to Tottenham. 4 4 4 There were plenty of niceties before kick-off as VIPs made their way through the stadium. Ferguson was joined by United owners Avram Glazer and Sir Jim Ratcliffe, as well as club CEO Omar Berrada. Ferdinand was at the San Mames Stadium on punditry duty for TNT Sports - so he and Paul Scholes said hello to their former boss. But before Ferdinand could get a word out Fergie shook his hand before ripping into him. He grabbed his sleeve while saying: "What kind of jacket is that?" That sparked laughter from Ferdinand who then shook Glazer's hand before Ferguson turned his attention to Scholes. He quickly grilled him too, asking the former midfielder why he did not attend his fundraising dinner. Ferdinand was also involved in another awkward exchange in Bilbao as Brennan Johnson scored for Spurs. Man Utd ratings: Diallo best player in Europa League final but Hojlund out of his depth AMAD DIALLO'S fizzing first-half display was little consolation for Manchester United in a dismal 1-0 Europa League final loss to Tottenham. Rasmus Hojlund's plight up front continued in one of the worst European showpieces for many years - as both sides showed why they will finish in the Premier League lower reaches. Spurs clinched it from virtually their first opportunity - on 42 minutes. Brennan Johnson bundled in Pape Sarr's inswinging cross, with United left-back Luke Shaw also getting a touch on the way. The Red Devils dictated possession more and more after the break, with Leny Yoro stretching to test Guglielmo Vicario from a free-kick. But United's chances only arrived regularly in the final quarter of a patchy contest. The Red Devils belatedly piled on the pressure in the seven minutes of stoppage time, but Spurs just held on. The TNT Sports camera cut straight to Ferdinand after the goal, with the pundit appearing distraught.
