Paul Scholes launches scathing attack on five Man Utd players as Erik ten Hag future hangs in the balance

Paul Scholes has laid into five Manchester United players after they played out a dull 0-0 draw against Aston Villa on Sunday afternoon.

Erik ten Hag was once again under huge pressure heading into the game after a disappointing 3-3 draw with Porto in midweek. Despite signs of promise early on against Villa, United lacked cutting edge in the final third and were unable to break the deadlock.

The draw was United's fifth consecutive game without a win, but Ten Hag remains at the club - for now at least.

Former United midfielder Scholes has criticised the club's summer signings of late.

And after the draw with Villa, he ripped into Rasmus Hojlund, Joshua Zirkzee, Manuel Ugarte, Lisandro Martinez and Matthijs de Ligt.

"In forward areas especially, I just don’t think the quality is there. We go back to the most successful teams, they’re capable of scoring goals. What have we scored? Five goals in seven games," Scholes told SuperSport.

"Now we had three or four forwards who could get you 20 goals so you’re looking at 80 goals a season there and I just don’t see that in the forward line at Manchester United. Look, Hojlund does alright but is he gonna score you 20 goals? I don’t think so.

"Zirkzee… what is he? Is he a No.9 or a No.10? Is he going to get you 20 goals? I don’t think so. I think they’re relying more on hope than actual proven quality and they spent so much money as well.

"It’s a ridiculous amount of money, and some of them can’t get in the team! You think of Ugarte coming into the club who was supposed to change the way the midfield was… he didn’t play him.

Several United players disappointed at Villa Park (Credit:Getty)

"De Ligt, £50m, and he didn’t play him. Jonny Evans has come in at 36 years old instead of him. Martinez, Ten Hag brought him into the club. What’s he thinking today? Jonny Evans is playing, Maguire started, [Victor] Lindelof comes on before him. It’s just a recruitment mess, really.”

Scholes is clearly unhappy with his former side’s results and stressed their lack of desire to win the game at Villa Park.

“It’s a point for United, going to a tough ground under a lot of pressure. I never really felt like they went there to try and win the game. It was more of a survival tactic more than anything,” he added.

The point at Villa Park left Ten Hag's side in 14^th place in the Premier League, with a two-week break for internationals now to come. Next up for United is a home match against Brentford at Old Trafford on October 19.