Daily Mail

Mourinho takes aim at Scholes

- JACK GAUGHAN at Goodison Park @Jack_Gaughan

With an air of premeditat­ion, Jose Mourinho felt emboldened enough to take aim at Paul Scholes after Manchester United finally started winning again.

Scholes was vocal in his criticism of Paul Pogba before this victory at Everton, suggesting he ‘ just strolled through games’ — but the United captain hit back with a man-of-the-match display.

then his manager finished the job. ‘the only thing Paul Scholes does is criticise,’ said Mourinho. ‘he doesn’t comment, he criticises.

‘it’s not Paul Pogba’s fault that he makes much more money than Paul Scholes. it’s just the way football is. i think Scholes will be in the history books as a phenomenal player, but not as a pundit.’

Critics are clearly on the minds of United’s players, too. Jesse Lingard motioned a zipping of his lips towards a television camera after scoring United’s stunning second goal yesterday, before tweeting: ‘Don’t talk too much.’

Mourinho has been hurt by those throwing stones in his direction — including Scholes’s Class of ’92 colleagues.

Another who hass been aiming digs is Noel Gallagher, who took great delight in his hit Wonderwall l blaring out of the away dressing room at Old trafford after last month’s derby win. the Oasis star and City fan publicly labelled Mourinho ‘the most hated manan in football’ days later.er. Mourinho added mance

yesterday: ‘ the performanc­e was really good, so maybe i’m lucky this time and the kings of rock ’n’ roll who said i wasn’t performing last month will say i’m performing.’

United, who want to do transfer business in attacking areas this month, could welcome back Romelu Lukaku against Derby County in the FA Cup on Friday night.

Lukaku wanted to play yesterday despite leaving Old trafford on a stretcher with a head injury at the weekend, with Mourinho revealing protocol on potential concussion had to be followed. the etiquette of not picking fights with club greats seemingly did not, however. And while Scholes will not be silenced, it offers more than a little indication that the fire still burns inside United’s manager. Mourinho was not done with Scholes. ‘if one day Paul decides to be a manager, i wish he can be 25 per cent as successful as myself,’ he said. ‘So 25 is around six trophies. if he is 25 per cent he will be quite happy but in my mind Paul Scholes is one of the best players i have ever seen playing in midfield. ‘he gave so much to my club that i can only thank him because the prestige of this club is based on people like him. Not every one of us has to be phenomenal like he was as a player. ‘ Paul Pogba ttries to do his bbest all the time and sometimes he plays very well, sometimes he plays well, sometimes he doesn’t play so well. ‘i think they (ex-players turned pundits) would love to be here, in the club and that’s a problem that i cannot resolve.’ Sam Allardyce said Everton should know if they have signed striker Cenk tosun from Besiktas today. ‘We’ve done all we can,’ Allardyce said. ‘that may help us to achieve results. Our attacking powers are limited, we know that.’

 ?? GETTY IMAGES ?? Good to talk: Mourinho (left) and Allardyce yesterday
GETTY IMAGES Good to talk: Mourinho (left) and Allardyce yesterday
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