PAUL SCHOLES has warned Manchester United face another thrashing when they take on City this weekend – while slamming Harry Maguire following his Atalanta horror show.
Cristiano Ronaldo bailed Ole Gunnar Solskjaer out of jail yet again with both of his side’s goals in the 2-2 draw in Bergamo.
But Scholes fears the Portuguese legend’s heroics are merely serving to paper over the cracks at United.
After the Champions League thriller in Italy, Scholes warned United face a massacre against Pep Guardiola’s champions with Raphael Varane going off injured and Maguire ‘not with it’ amid a tough run of form.
Scholes told BT Sport: “It was a little bit messy. When Varane went off (injured) it seemed to go all over the place again.
“They were really shaky, the quality in the middle of the pitch wasn’t great again, giving the ball away far too often.
“I don’t know if Harry Maguire is still injured or has got a hangover from the Euros, but he doesn’t look right, he’s not with it at the minute.
“With a performance like that second half, and no Varane on Saturday, it has to be a worry.
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“City will think they have a good chance of winning, and with no Varane it makes it more difficult for United.”
Scholes’ fellow pundit and former team-mate Rio Ferdinand agreed – fearing United could ‘get slapped’ against their local rivals.
Ferdinand added: “If United go out with that second half performance against Manchester City they will get slapped again, three, four, five goals.
“The intensity was not there.
“You look at it and you say what formation are they playing?
“They were in disarray… Cristiano Ronaldo saved them in the second half.
“Varane covers both sides very well and as soon as he went off they just looked so shaky, a complete lack of confidence.
“They went to a four and it looked like Atalanta could get through this team at any time.
“United were fortunate Atalanta didn’t score any more and the great man stepped up.”
Man Utd host neighbours City in Saturday’s 12.30pm kick-off.
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
