Manchester United legend Paul Scholes delivered a blunt and expletive-laden assessment of his former club following their 2-1 defeat away to Newcastle United at St James' Park. The loss marked United's first defeat in eight matches under interim manager Michael Carrick, who grew up watching football at the very stadium where his side succumbed to a dramatic 90th-minute winner from William Osula.
Scholes' Scathing Social Media Critique
In a now-deleted Instagram story posted overnight, Scholes did not mince his words. "Michael has definitely got something special about him... cos United have been c***p last four games... night," the former midfielder wrote, adding a kissing face emoji. He followed this with the name 'Tonali' and a love heart, referencing Newcastle's star midfielder.
This public criticism comes despite United's recent run of form, which had seen them avoid defeat in seven consecutive games. However, Scholes' point referenced a series of underwhelming performances. Prior to the Newcastle trip, United had scraped a draw against relegation-threatened West Ham and secured narrow victories over Everton and Crystal Palace, results that papered over concerning cracks.
Doubts Over Carrick's Permanent Appointment
The defeat left Manchester United third in the Premier League table, but the cushion to the chasing pack is slim. Chelsea's 4-1 victory at Aston Villa means the gap to sixth-placed Liverpool is now just three points, intensifying the pressure on the club's hierarchy.
Scholes, who won multiple Premier League titles alongside Carrick at Old Trafford, has been vocal in his belief that his former teammate should not be handed the managerial job on a permanent basis this summer. Speaking on The Good, The Bad & The Football Podcast, Scholes outlined his preference for a manager with proven trophy-winning experience.
"The perfect one out there - I say perfect - Ancelotti is still out there," Scholes stated, acknowledging the Italian's current role as Brazil coach. "He is the perfect one for Manchester United where you think he will make players feel a million dollars. And he has the experience of winning stuff."
Questions of Experience and Leadership
While Carrick has previous head coaching experience from his tenure at Championship side Middlesbrough between 2022 and 2025, Scholes questions whether that prepares him for the unique pressures of leading Manchester United. The pair played together 160 times for club and country.
"The question is, has Michael got the experience?" Scholes continued. "I know it's a big question, I know he has managed in the Championship, but this is different. Can we see Michael winning the Premier League? I don't know yet."
Scholes framed the club's impending decision around a fundamental choice in managerial philosophy. "What type of manager will they look for? A tactician or a man manager who looks after people? Ole Gunnar [Solskjaer] was that. But all the people who are man managers, they always have a brilliant coach next to them, which Michael has got [in Steve Holland]."
He concluded by drawing a parallel with the previous regime, posing a critical question: "The club have to decide... Ole Gunnar had the man management skills, but did he have the experience to go on and win a trophy? The same questions will be asked of Michael." This public airing of doubts from a club icon adds a significant layer of scrutiny as United's board contemplates its next permanent managerial appointment.
