November 25, 2024

Paul Scholes urges Ole Gunnar Solskjaer to not play Marcus Rashford on Manchester United’s right wing

Rashford #Rashford

Paul Scholes feels Mason Greenwood should start on Manchester United’s right wing (BT Sport)

Paul Scholes believes Ole Gunnar Solskjaer made a mistake by playing Marcus Rashford ahead of Mason Greenwood on the right wing for Manchester United’s Europe League clash with Roma on Thursday evening.

Greenwood has been in excellent form in recent weeks with five goals in his last seven appearances.

But the 19-year-old was only named as a substitute for the first leg of United’s Europa League semi final at Old Trafford.

Rashford started on the right flank ahead of Greenwood, with Paul Pogba deployed on the opposite wing.

And speaking before the game, Scholes and his former United teammate Owen Hargreaves disagreed with Solskjaer’s selection.

Advertisement

Advertisement

‘I think for United, Marcus can be really good off the right-hand side. He’s a great crosser of the ball, he’s scored a couple of big goals in the Champions League playing from there,’ said Hargreaves.

Paul Scholes believes Marcus Rashford does not enjoy playing on Manchester United’s right wing (Getty)

‘[Edinson] Cavani through the middle, Paul [Pogba] is a great option off the left-hand side because he can drift inside. And Ole loves those two defensive midfielders [Fred and Scott McTominay], Bruno playing as a No.10.

‘I think Marcus off the right side is a really good option, and obviously Cavani through the middle is as lethal as anyone.’

But Scholes believes one of Fred or Scott McTominay should have been sacrificed in order for both Rashford and Greenwood to play.

‘I slightly disagree, I don’t think Marcus enjoys playing on that right-hand side,’ said Scholes.

Mason Greenwood was only named on the bench for Manchester United’s clash with Roma (Getty)

‘I don’t think his numbers are anywhere near as good on the right side.

‘He’s an option but for this team to evolve, you’re not playing Manchester City here where I’d expect to play two holding midfielders. You’re going to have a lot of possession, you can afford that extra attacking midfielder.

More: Manchester United FC

‘Play Paul as a midfielder, he can link with Bruno all day long as a No.10, bring Mason [Greenwood] in, Mason’s in the best form of his life, I can’t believe he’s not playing.

‘He’s so much better from the right-hand side, Marcus is better from the left-hand side, and Cavani through the middle is a great option.’

Advertisement

Advertisement

Follow Metro Sport across our social channels, on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

For more stories like this, check our sport page.

Leave a Reply