Premier League

PAUL SCHOLES has not been afraid to stick the boot in on Manchester United this season.So much so that one player phoned him up about his criticism.Manchester United’s players have been criticised throughout the seasonCredit: PAPaul Scholes refuses to hold back in his fiery approachCredit: YouTube/The OverlapScholes revealed on The Overlap Fan Debate via Sky Bet one unnamed United man took matters into his own hands – and got in touch about the negative press.The legendary midfielder, 50, said: “Players can be a little bit touchy these days.“I had a player this year, who contacted me and wasn’t happy with some of the things I’d said.”He wanted to meet me at the training ground.READ MORE ON MAN UTD”I said, ‘Of course, no problem,’ and gave him my number but he never got back to me.“I would have done it. If I’m saying things I believe and he wants me to explain why, it wouldn’t have been a nice conversation.”But I said if they or anyone else has a problem, there’s my phone number.”Scholes did not say who the irked Red Devils player was – but there is no shortage of people at Old Trafford he has slammed this season…Most read in FootballJoin SUN CLUB for the Man Utd Files every Thursday plusin-depth coverage and exclusives from Old TraffordAUGUST 2024 – ANDRE ONANABefore the season even started, Scholes was piling in on United – and Andre Onana was the first man caught in his crosshairs.Scholes: “I’ve heard a lot of United fans say how excited they are for the new season… I’m struggling with that.Paul Scholes feels like Man Utd are ‘begging’ for money to build new stadium “The goalkeeper is a big concern for me. Even in pre-season with some of the goals he conceded. I worry to death about him.”AUGUST 2024 – MATTHIJS DE LIGTUnited brought in defender Matthijs de Ligt for £42million – and it is safe to say Scholes was not convinced given his lack of minutes for Bayern Munich last season.Scholes: “We’re talking about players who can’t get into their team.”He’s not playing for Bayern, that has to be a big concern, especially when Eric Dier is playing in front of him. That is a massive concern for me.”SEPTEMBER 2024 – MATTHIJS DE LIGTIt didn’t take long for the club icon to continue his De Ligt rant and reckons Erik ten Hag was desperate to replace Harry Maguire.Scholes: “He couldn’t wait to get de Ligt straight in ahead of Maguire, he was just waiting for the opportunity.”And look, in all honestly, I’m not sure it is that much of an upgrade.”He might be slightly better but he is not a massive improvement where you think, ‘Wow.'”Andre Onana was criticised before the season startedCredit: RexMatthijs de Ligt’s signing to replace Harry Maguire raised questionsCredit: The TimesOCTOBER 2024 – NEW SIGNINGSHe blasted the club’s “ridiculous” transfer strategy – and namedropped five flop arrivals. Scholes: “Zirkzee, what is he? Is he a No9 or a No10? Is he going to get you 20 goals? I don’t think so.”Rasmus Hojlund does alright – but is he gonna score you 20 goals? I don’t think so.”I think they are relying more on hope than actual proven quality and they spent so much money as well.”It’s a ridiculous amount of money and some of them can’t get in the team.”You think of Ugarte coming into the club, who was supposed to change the midfield, Ten Hag didn’t play him.”De Ligt, £50m and he didn’t play him. Jonny Evans has come in at 36-years-old instead of him.”Martinez, Ten Hag brought him into the club. What must he be thinking? Jonny Evans is playing, Harry Maguire started, Victor Lindelof comes on before him.”OCTOBER 2024 – ERIK TEN HAGIt was not just the players feeling the heat from Scholes, who also went in on Ten Hag just before his sacking.Scholes: “There’s been no improvement. “I think that’s the biggest disappointment with two and a little bit years in, a lot of money has been spent and we’re not seeing improvement.”You’d like to think by now they’re up there challenging them. The top three teams I know Liverpool, City and Arsenal are ahead of most other teams.”You’d like to see them getting even a little bit closer to that, but it doesn’t feel like it.”JANUARY 2025 – KOBBIE MAINOOAfter a few quieter months as Ruben Amorim replaced Ten Hag, Scholes continued his onslaught in the New Year by raising questions over Kobbie Mainoo’s fitness levels.Scholes: “Mainoo with his legs has to be a worry. “He doesn’t finish a lot of games.”JANUARY 2025 – MAN UTD SQUADScholes then took aim at pretty much the entire squad – as just three avoided the chop in a game of “keep or sell”. Mainoo, Onana and Alejandro Garnacho avoided the ruthless culling but the rest he was asked about were dumped. Scholes is worried Kobbie Mainoo is not fit enoughCredit: GettyThe ex-midfielder wanted Marcus Rashford ‘banished’ before his Villa loanCredit: GettyScholes said Luke Shaw and Mason Mount are “never fit”, Casemiro is past his best and defenders De Ligt and Lisandro Martinez can go. For Antony, Joshua Zirkzee and Marcus Rashford, Scholes simply replied: “Sell.”JANUARY 2025 – MARCUS RASHFORDRashford took plenty of flak inside and outside the club ahead of his loan move to Aston Villa – and Scholes did not hold back.Scholes: “I think Marcus has let a lot of people down with his attitude.”He’s 27, he’s clearly not training properly, he’s not living his life properly. “In a way, he’s saying he doesn’t want to be involved with the team and the fact of letting his teammates down, he should be banished from the dressing room.”FEBRUARY 2025 – RUBEN AMORIM & PATRICK DORGUPatrick Dorgu only arrived in the January transfer window but it did not take long for Scholes’ attention to be drawn to the defender when United played Leicester in the FA Cup.He seemingly took a sarcastic swipe at Amorim playing the Danish full-back out of position.An unimpressed Scholes posted on Instagram: “Inverted wing-backs… you saw it at [Old Trafford] first.”Patrick Dorgu operated on the right in the FA Cup against LeicesterCredit: GettyAlejandro Garnacho threw a strop when he was subbed off against IpswichCredit: ReutersMARCH 2025 – ALEJANDRO GARNACHOScholes singled out Garnacho for criticism after the Argentine winger threw a strop when substituted off against Ipswich. Scholes: “He looked like he was sulking a little bit to me.”Garnacho’s biggest strength is running through. Sometimes he makes the wrong decisions but he had a lack of energy and a little bit of silkiness.”He will need to get better as they don’t really have anything else to call on.”MARCH 2025 – SIR JIM RATCLIFFEAnd the 11-time Premier League winner even took a swing at owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe over the ambitious £2billion new stadium plans. Scholes: “You can be gullible at times, and believe what he says, just because you’ve never heard anyone say anything before. You don’t know how realistic it is, it’s all up in the air.Read More on The Sun”Words are cheap, and we could say anything about anyone, you can say in 10 years we’ll have the biggest and best stadium.”For a long time, we’ve been called the richest club in the world, but I feel like we’re begging a little, asking for the stadium and that we need £2billion, and selling players to buy players.” More

MANCHESTER UNITED will jet to Asia straight after their final Premier League game for two post-season friendlies.Ruben Amorim’s side will make a 15-hour, 6,600 mile trip to Malaysia after concluding their Prem campaign on May 25.Ruben Amorim will take his side to Asia in MayCredit: RexThe Red Devils have announced that they will play an ASEAN All Stars side in Kuala Lumpur on May 28.United stars will then jet 1,500 miles to Hong Kong for a match against their national team just two days later.It’s believed that the trip will make the club around £8million.Red Devils CEO Omar Berrada said: “We appreciate the amazing level of support that Manchester United enjoys around the world and this summer we are delighted to deliver a schedule that provides our fans in Asia, Scandinavia and the United States the opportunity to connect with the club and watch the men’s first team play live in local settings.READ MORE IN FOOTBALL”Importantly, tour fixtures drive significant additional revenue which help make the club stronger, allowing us to keep investing in success on the pitch.”They also create unique opportunities for us to collaborate with our valued commercial partners, and to deepen relationships with our fans in regions such as Asia and the US.”Man Utd stars will report for international duty following the conclusion of their post-season tour, with England in action against Andorra on June 7.Tottenham and Newcastle were both criticised for playing each other in Hong Kong three days after the end of the 2023-24 season.Most read in FootballBEST ONLINE CASINOS – TOP SITES IN THE UKMan Utd have already confirmed that they will travel to the US for a pre-season tour this summer.The Red Devils will participate in the Premier League Summer Series, playing West Ham in New Jersey, Bournemouth in Chicago and Everton in Atlanta.Amorim says Man Utd ‘need to be better’ after 1-0 defeat to Nottingham Forest Fans on social media have slammed United’s post-season plans.One fumed: “Another season we won’t be ready for. How many injuries will we pick up here …then off to America with no new signings. The last 12 years on repeat”While a second reasoned: “I get why do they do it, but this summer in particular I feel the footballing side would benefit from sticking around closer to home.”A third raged: “It’s all about the cash imagine the back lash if Bruno gets a 12 month injury as a result.”And another added: “They will be knackered before they even start the season.” More

A LOYAL Manchester United fan has been forced to give up his Old Trafford seat of 45 years to make way for corporate hospitality.Michael Carney, 81, has followed United through thick and thin – from the Busby Babes and the Holy Trinity of George Best, Bobby Charlton and Denis Law to the 1999 Treble and today’s lows.A loyal Manchester United fan has been forced to give up his Old Trafford seatCredit: PAMichael Carney has held his Man Utd seat for 45 years at Old TraffordCredit: PAHowever, the club are taking the longtime fan’s seat away and are forcing him to move from his spot in the lower section of the Sir Bobby Charlton stand.Carney was among the die-hard Man Utd fans who received a season ticket renewal letter that informed them their seats will be converted to hospitality sectors this summer.It read: “We have identified a small number of general admission tickets directly adjacent to the home and away dugouts that will be converted to hospitality seats this summer.”This reflects the high value of this unique location and will help to raise hospitality revenue to keep general admission Season Ticket prices lower. Read More on Man Utd”Your current seat is included within this block, and we will therefore need to find you an alternative seat for next season.”And Carney made his feelings known by aiming a powerful placard at the Red Devils’ hierarchy during Sunday’s goalless derby against Manchester City.The sign read on one side: “I was sat here before you were born!”And the other side read: “74 years of loyal support – for what?”Most read in FootballCarney, who still keeps newspapers from the Munich air disaster and Best’s phenomenal performance at Benfica in 1966, feels his beloved club is hanging him out to dry.He told the BBC: “It is very sad after all these years. They could put you anywhere and I don’t think you will be able to argue much. If you don’t like it, clear off.Paul Scholes lays into Sir Jim Ratcliffe for ‘having the cheek’ to introduce ‘ridiculous’ Man Utd’s ticket prices “They are brilliant seats. Mine is smack on the halfway line, midway between the dug-outs and the directors’ box.”One way of looking at it is that we have been fortunate to be sitting there for all those years – but you get used to it.”It has been happening on an individual basis for some time now. Before every game, you get an email saying if you can’t make the game, let them know and they will give you your money back. “If you have not been, the lads around will ask whoever is in the seat how much they paid for it. Very often it would be £250-£300. Fan protests”That is a good way of seeing what they want to do now, taking everyone out en-bloc.”Man Utd have been making a lot of controversial changes, which include brutal cuts, under Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s Ineos, who are in charge of sporting operations.The club told season ticket holders who are sat right behind the dugouts at Old Trafford will have to move to make way for a VIP hospitality area.This situation led to another protest after the Manchester derby with hundreds of fans venting their frustrations over next season ticket price rises, the cutting of concessions and the amount of money paid to service United’s £1billion debt.Some seniors will see the cost of their season tickets rise by 57 per cent – a situation branded “shameful” when it emerges last month.A wider “sit-in” protest was also arranged by the 1958 fan group.However, it is expected that the conversion of these seats will allow the club to generate significant additional revenue, which would help minimise increases to season ticket prices.Other Premier League clubs have followed the same formula for the seats located over the dugouts.Read More on The SunChelsea are charging an extraordinary £12,500 for one ticket for their final two home games of the season against Liverpool and Man Utd at Stamford Bridge.The staggering prices for the Blues’ VIP dugout experience are a new record for the Prem – and will cost punters £139 for every minute of action on the pitch. More

A MANCHESTER UNITED star rang Paul Scholes and tried to confront him at the training ground over his negative TV comments.Scholes, 50, is not afraid to speak his mind in his role on The Overlap Fan Debate and as a pundit for TNT Sports.A Manchester United rang up Paul Scholes about his negative punditryCredit: YouTube/The OverlapThe unnamed player wanted to confront him at the training groundCredit: PABut his criticism got under the skin of one irked Red Devils squad member.Asked whether players react to comments made by pundits, Scholes revealed on The Overlap Fan Debate via Sky Bet one unnamed United man took matters into his own hands.He said: “Players can be a little bit touchy these days.“I had a player this year, who contacted me and wasn’t happy with some of the things I’d said. READ MORE ON MAN UTD”He wanted to meet me at the training ground.”I said, ‘Of course, no problem,’ and gave him my number but he never got back to me.“I would have done it. If I’m saying things I believe and he wants me to explain why, it wouldn’t have been a nice conversation.”But I said if they or anyone else has a problem, there’s my phone number.”Most read in FootballJoin SUN CLUB for the Man Utd Files every Thursday plusin-depth coverage and exclusives from Old TraffordScholes refused to reveal the name of the individual in question in what has been another disappointing campaign for his former club – under both Erik ten Hag and Ruben Amorim. But he reckons criticism from the media and former players is part and parcel of life as a professional footballer.’Gary Neville’s having a proper meltdown’ – Fans fear for Man Utd icon after he apologises for his derby co-commentaryThe United legend, though, thinks players should be able to brush off the comments – although that is easier said than done. Scholes added: “What we say as pundits shouldn’t affect a player. “The only people that should affect the players is what the manager thinks, the coaching staff, and their team-mates. “Whatever is said on TV should be taken with a pinch of salt.”I’m not even sure how many players these days watch football and watch what we’re saying. “There was one United player who obviously took a bit of offense to what I said, but you just deal with it. “If things need an explanation or a meeting over a tea or coffee, I’d be happy to give it.”I only do punditry for Manchester United games now. “I very rarely do other games because I want to watch United, and I want to be at the United games. “Ever since I’ve started doing it, the performances have not been great. Paul Scholes’ slams of the season”I don’t think I saw them win for a long time and you look terrible having a go at your club when that’s the club you played for, for 20 years – it’s the last thing you want. “It’d be so easy if you were a Manchester City player for the last ten years. “Where we are now, it makes you look like a bit of a villain.”Jamie Carragher then opened up on being called out by Daniel Sturridge for telling Liverpool to sell the forward.The Sky pundit said: “It was Daniel Sturridge. “You wouldn’t believe this, but when I stopped playing for a couple of years, Liverpool asked me and Steven Gerrard to go on an end of season game in Australia.“Liverpool couldn’t sell out the tickets to fill out this stadium in Australia, so they asked me, Stevie, and Steve McManaman to play with the team. “I’d said that they’d needed to sell Daniel Sturridge, and he confronted me in the dressing room when we got over there. “And I thought, ‘Fair play, good on you.’ Read More on The Sun”There is nothing worse than someone backing down, so I wasn’t going to. “Sometimes, if I was a player with a journalist, I might say something and they’d back down and say sorry, but no, just front it.”United have had another difficult season under Erik ten Hag and Ruben AmorimCredit: RexJamie Carragher told Liverpool to get rid of Daniel SturridgeCredit: Getty More

JEREMY MONGA was forced to wear a Leicester shirt without a sponsor on his senior debut.The 15-year-old became the second-youngest player in Premier League history when he came off the bench in the Foxes’ 3-0 defeat to Newcastle tonight.Jeremy Monga was banned from wearing the club’s shirt sponsor on his debutCredit: ReutersDue to his age, he is not allowed to promote a gambling companyCredit: RexMonga is 23 years younger than veteran striker Jamie VardyCredit: GettyMonga, who was born in 2009 and is 23 years Jamie Vardy’s junior, replaced Bilal El Khannouss after 74 minutes at the King Power Stadium.But the wonderkid was not allowed to wear the same kit as his team-mates due to the club’s sponsor.Leicester shirts have crypto casino BC Game on the front and due to the teenager only being 15 years and 271 days old, he is not allowed to promote a gambling company.The winger, with No93 on his back, therefore wore a kit without the brand printed across his torso.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLMonga is a highly-rated youngster who has earned six caps for England’s Under-16s.He has caught the eye of top clubs already amid interest from Manchester City, Chelsea and Real Madrid.Despite his young age, Monga’s senior debut has been a long time coming.Asked about him on his arrival, manager Ruud van Nistelrooy said: “The first thing I did here was look at the Under-21s, at the Under-18s, getting them into first-team training and seeing them.Most read in Football“When players are good enough the age doesn’t matter to me, and they can help the team.”Van Nistelrooy revealed last week that Monga’s education commitments were making integrating him difficult, explaining: “He’s developing really well and you can see how good he is.Leicester stars party in nightclub next to ‘Enzo I miss you’ sign hours after Chelsea loss on night before Cooper sacked“I also mentioned the situation still as a 15-year-old, with school, and with the possibility to have him around the team, it’s limited.”The record for youngest Prem player ever is held by Arsenal’s Ethan Nwaneri, who made his debut at 15 years and 181 days old in September 2022. More