Paul Scholes dropped his clear stance on two Manchester United players under manager Ruben Amorim ahead of the 3-1 Premier League comeback win against Southampton.
The Red Devils hosted Southampton at Old Trafford on Thursday evening and Manchester United picked up their first Premier League victory of 2025.
Southampton took the lead at the Theatre of Dreams in the first half after United continued to show their weakness from set-pieces under Ruben Amorim.
The Saints were 1-0 up at half-time after Southampton’s corner took a huge deflection off the back of Manuel Ugarte and landed in the back of the United net.
However, Amad Diallo came to United’s rescue late in the second half and the Ivorian winger scored a sensational hat-trick to complete the Red Devils’ comeback.
The 22-year-old United winger cancelled out Southampton’s opener in the 82nd minute before completing his brace in the 90th minute at Old Trafford.
Amad Diallo, who recently inked a new contract with United, then struck in injury time to seal all three Premier League points for the Red Devils.
Manchester United climbed to 12th place in the Premier League table after their victory over Southampton at Old Trafford on Thursday evening.
The Red Devils managed only seven league wins in 21 matches in the 2024-25 Premier League season and United are only 10 points clear of the relegation zone.
Speaking ahead of the match, Paul Scholes was asked about the futures of youth academy products Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo at Old Trafford.
United have hinted that the pair could be sold if the right offers are made and Kobbie Mainoo has been heavily linked with Premier League side Chelsea.
Alejandro Garnacho has also attracted interest from Napoli, despite previously being a key first-team player under former United manager Erik ten Hag.
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Karen Carney and Paul Scholes share their thoughts on rumours of a Mainoo transfer 👀
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Scholes admitted that he could see United winger Garnacho being sold if the Red Devils needed the necessary finances to rebuild Ruben Amorim’s first-team squad.
“I can see that with Garnacho, yeah,” he told TNT Sports, as per the Metro.
“I think United could get better than Garnacho, although he’s a young player and there’s still probably better to come, I still think he’s a little bit scruffy in his technique at times, I think his decision-making sometimes is really poor.
“I wouldn’t be afraid or I wouldn’t be worried if they sold Garnacho. But Mainoo, I would be offended by that.
“The lad [Garnacho] is absolutely capable, there’s no doubt about that, but finding him a position in this team has been a struggle.”
A sale of Alejandro Garnacho or Kobbie Mainoo (or both) would benefit United when it comes to Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR), despite potential fan backlash.
Scholes insisted that it would be “absolutely ridiculous” if United were willing to allow Garnacho or Mainoo to leave as part of the existing PSR rules in place.
“It would be absolutely ridiculous if the club had to sell him or Garnacho,” he said.
“All the hard work the club have had to do, he’s probably been since seven or eight years of age, and then to sell him for some PSR rules, it’s ridiculous.
“He’s United’s brightest spark, he’s the leading man who could be here for the next five to 10 years.”
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