Manchester United legend Paul Scholes has slammed his former club for failing to show the courage to take control of games from the opening whistle. Speaking after United’s 2-2 draw against Everton at Goodison Park, Scholes specifically called out Bruno Fernandes for going missing when the team needed leadership the most.
United endured yet another disastrous start, conceding twice within the first 33 minutes. Ruben Amorim’s side struggled to handle the intensity of Everton’s aggressive pressing, with defensive errors once again proving costly.
Although United managed a second-half comeback—courtesy of a stunning Bruno Fernandes free kick and Manuel Ugarte’s late equalizer—Scholes was unimpressed. He dismissed the last-minute fightback as meaningless if the team continues to lack bravery in the crucial early stages of matches.
Scholes: United Need to Show Courage From the Start
Speaking on The Overlap Fan Debate, Scholes criticized United’s tendency to wake up too late in games, insisting their struggles in the opening 20 minutes cost them crucial points.
“When we talk about the last 20 minutes, how we were really good and showed a bit of bravery… people rave about that,” Scholes said. “But you’ve got to do that in the first 20 minutes.”
He highlighted Goodison Park’s hostile atmosphere as a key challenge and questioned why Fernandes and others failed to impose themselves early on.
“Everton was hostile, they had great energy, and the crowd was on top of them. So where are you then? Where’s Bruno Fernandes then? That’s when you win your games of football,” he continued.
Scholes argued that if United could maintain their composure and control possession early, they would tire out their opponents and create better chances later in the match. However, he concluded that the squad lacks the mental toughness to implement that approach.
“They haven’t got the balls, they haven’t got the b******s to do that in the first 20 minutes or half an hour of a game,” he added bluntly.
Amorim Echoes Frustration Over United’s Performance
United manager Ruben Amorim was equally critical of his side’s poor start, admitting that they were virtually nonexistent in the first half.
“We didn’t exist in the first half. We lost balls that we cannot lose,” Amorim said in his post-match press conference. “At half-time, I told them we are going to do what we did in training, but with more energy.”
The Portuguese coach was particularly frustrated by his team’s lack of intensity and careless mistakes under no real pressure.
“The worst part is that we are losing the ball without pressure and we are not doing what we need to do. We were soft,” he admitted.
Despite the disappointment, Amorim acknowledged some positives in the second-half response, though he emphasized that survival is the priority for now.
“We need to survive this season, and then we can think ahead. I don’t want to just focus on the negatives. In the second half, we were close to winning this game,” he concluded.
United’s Worrying Trend of Slow Starts
United’s inability to score in the first half has been a glaring issue throughout the season. The draw against Everton marked the 20th time in 26 Premier League matches that they failed to register a first-half goal from open play.
With key fixtures ahead, both Scholes and Amorim have made it clear—United’s mentality must change, or they will continue to struggle against high-intensity opposition.