‘He Will Go Down As A Phenomenal Player, Not Pundit’ – Jose Mourinho Claws At Paul Scholes After Man Utd Legend Dares To Criticise Recent Performances

Chris Wright

2nd, January 2018

7 Comments

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We’ve reached the point in the entirely-predictable Jose Mourinho toxic shock cycle where, under pressure due to waning performances and frayed morale, he starts lashing out with forked tongue and anybody who dares criticise him in public.

Manchester United were nothing short of bereft during the goalless first half of their 2-0 win over Everton on New Year’s Day, with many exasperated onlookers drawing parallels with the plodding, regimented, unimaginative football that came to exemplify Louis van Gaal’s tenure at Old Trafford.

In the wake of the preceding 0-0 draw against Southampton, Paul Scholes, watching the match as part of BT Sport’s punditry entourage, reserved specific condemnation for Paul Pogba, who he criticised for “not looking like a £90million player” capable of winning games.

Speaking after the Everton match, in which Pogba provided assists for both goals, Mourinho clambered up onto his pedestal hand-sculpted from 100% congealed opprobrium and began pontificating.

I think the only thing Paul Scholes does is criticise. I don’t think he comments, I think he criticises, which is a different thing. Not every one of us has to be phenomenal like he was as a player. That does not mean we all have to be phenomenal.

Paul [Pogba] tries to do his best all the time. Sometimes he plays very well, sometimes he plays well, sometimes he doesn’t play so well.

It’s not Paul’s fault that he has made much more money than Paul Scholes. It’s not Paul Scholes’ fault either, it’s just the way football is.

I think Scholes will be in history as a phenomenal player, not as a pundit.

I prefer to look at him as a phenomenal player that gave so much to the club that I am proud to represent.

But wait, there’s more:

If Paul one day decides to be a manager, I wish that he can be 25% as successful as myself. 50% of that is 12.5 [pieces of] silverware, 25% is around 6.

If he’s 25%, he’ll be quite happy.

In my mind Paul Scholes is a phenomenal player, one of the best I’ve ever seen playing in midfield. He gave so much to my club that I can only thank him for that.

The prestige of this club is based on people like him.

Bad-mouthing club legends? Textbook. It’ll be the fans next, then the media, then the upper management, then more of his own players, then the players he wasn’t able to sign because of upper management ineptitude, then out.

Lather, rinse, repeat.

Posted in Man Utd, Managers, Media, Newsnow

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7 Comments

  1. Beano says:

    Comments like this are why people enjoy whenever Mourinho fails. Less insults, more results.

  2. Eric M. says:

    Man United will continue with their culture of mediocrity as long as the culture of Ferguson still exists within the club.

    That said, this is an exceptionally fast self-destruction on Mourinho’s part.

    Also many kudos for the math-based insult. Scott Steiner would be proud.

  3. JP says:

    Is he wrong though? What does Scholes do on TV? He’s only remotely interesting when criticising Man Utd.

    • Beano says:

      That’s Scholes’ job though. Like I don’t see how anyone can spin this to make Mourinho look good.
      He got in an unnecessary pissing match with a broadcaster (who is a former club legend) over critique on his less than stellar performance in 2 years at the club. Between this and his tantrum after the Man City defeat, it’s hard to imagine him lasting another year.

      • Paul says:

        @Beano – Agreed, Mourinho will defend his personal honour even if it means alienating united fans, what an unusual man and move.
        Clearly the type of man to revel in the smell of his own farts.

    • Archer says:

      Indeed. Pogba is already a better player than Scholes ever was. I’m no fan, but Mourinho is right that it’s sour grapes on Scholes’ part.

  4. Bruno says:

    I think Mourinho is right on this one. Scholes talks too much. It’s a bit strange that someone who rarely gave interviews as a player is the first to talk right now. United are in 2nd place behind Man City who are, so far, in numbers, the greatest Premier League side ever. We are not 6th, we’re 2nd, for fuck’s sake. ANY Sir Alex side would be behind them too, in case Scholes hasn’t looked at the numbers.
    Scholes talks like United always played wonderful football while he was there…. come on. Also, being a club legend doesn’t mean you can criticise someone and not having to deal with the response.

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