Manchester United legend Paul Scholes has launched a scathing attack on current manager Ruben Amorim, accusing him of "ruining" young star Kobbie Mainoo in a social media rant he later deleted.
Scholes' Instagram Blast Over Mainoo Snub
The former England midfielder took to Instagram to hit out at Amorim's team selection, after the 20-year-old Mainoo was left on the bench during United's recent draw with West Ham. This season, Mainoo has been restricted to just 171 minutes of Premier League football and is yet to start a league game.
Scholes' fury was sparked despite Amorim publicly labelling Mainoo a crucial player just days before. "I see him as a starter like the other players," Amorim said last Friday. "I just have to make a choice... I just want to win games. I don't care who is playing."
In a now-deleted post, Scholes responded bluntly: "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."
A History of Damning Verdicts on United Bosses
This is not the first time Scholes has delivered a brutal public assessment of a Manchester United manager, and his past criticisms have often preceded their departure.
In May 2024, after a 4-0 defeat to Crystal Palace, Scholes said the loss felt like the "final nail in the coffin" for then-boss Erik ten Hag. He cited a "lack of know-how" and "lack of effort" from the team. Although Ten Hag won the FA Cup weeks later and earned a new contract, he was gone by October 2025, replaced by Amorim.
Scholes was equally dismissive of interim manager Ralf Rangnick during the 2021/22 season. After a draw with Southampton in February 2022, he remarked: "One team have got a proper Coach, the other team has a sporting director." Following a Champions League exit that March, he questioned how Rangnick was chosen and stressed the need for a "proper coach." Rangnick left that summer.
Can Amorim Weather the Storm?
Despite Scholes' track record, there are reasons for Ruben Amorim to be hopeful about his future at Old Trafford. Co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe hinted in October that the Portuguese manager, who recently marked his first year in charge, would be evaluated after a three-year period.
On the pitch, United's form has shown some resilience, with just one defeat in their last eight Premier League matches. The team currently sits eighth in the table ahead of their next fixture against Wolves.
However, the public criticism from a club icon like Scholes over the treatment of a prized academy graduate like Kobbie Mainoo adds significant pressure, highlighting the intense scrutiny that comes with managing one of the world's biggest football clubs.
