Paul Scholes criticizes Erik ten Hag’s ‘STRANGE’ substitutes in Manchester United’s draw at Chelsea and insists the manager’s decision to swap Jadon Sancho for Fred limited Bruno Fernandes’ influence
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Paul Scholes has questioned Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag’s decision to replace Jadon Sancho with Fred during yesterday’s 1-1 draw with Chelsea, describing the call as “strange”.
Ten Hag’s side controlled the early stages of the clash at Stamford Bridge on Saturday but failed to take advantage as both Marcus Rashford and Antony spurned the Red Devils’ chances in the first half.
His early dominance featured a 35th substitution for Graham Potter, who replaced Marc Cucurella with Mateo Kovacic, and helped Chelsea back into the game.
Erik ten Hag replaced Jadon Sancho with Fred in the second half in a 1-1 draw with Chelsea
Paul Scholes believes the decision restricted Bruno Fernandes’ role in Saturday’s game
The tactical battle between the two coaches continued in the second half, when Tan Hag hooked Jadon Sancho and brought in Fred. However, former United ace Scholes feels the change had a negative effect on the team, notably restricting Bruno Fernandes’ role in the game.
Speaking about Premier League Productions, Scholes said: “They were good for half a game today, they were really good and they probably deserved to win the game”, “You think about Chelsea being at home, did they do enough to win the game? I really don’t.” . I don’t think they did.
The subs were a little weird today. I thought Fred’s tackle when he did it for Sancho didn’t really help the game. I thought Fernandes lost control of the game a little bit, he had to come out on the left side and he wasn’t in the game so much.”
Scholes believes Erik ten Hag needs to find a way for United to be more dominant away from Old Trafford against big rivals.
The game turned into a tactical battle with Graham Potter making a change after just 35 minutes.
Chelsea eventually took the lead late in the second half through a Jorginho penalty, but United salvaged a point thanks to a Casemiro header in stoppage time.
However, Scholes believes his former team must learn to beat their top six away rivals if Ten Hag is to compete at the top of the Premier League.
Adding: ‘I think there is progress going to a great team and getting a point is progress. You’d still like to win those games, of course you would, but really looking back at the game, they should have won it.
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‘There will be bigger tests ahead, going to Anfield, going to Arsenal, going to these top teams. Now it’s a big test for them to take the next level.
“I think they solved the problems at home, those first two games were disastrous as we know, but they solved the problems at home, they look dominant, it’s that form away from home that I think the manager wants them to be.”
The draw leaves United a point behind the Blues in the Premier League, with Chelsea still sitting fourth in the Champions League table.