Scholes: He’s an embarrassment

CHRIS WHEELER

PAUL SCHOLES launched an extraordinary attack on Jose Mourinho last night, stating he was surprised the Manchester United manager had not yet been sacked and accusing him of ‘embarrassing’ the club. Mourinho is battling to save his job after United’s worst start to a season in 29 years, having publicly criticised his players and the club’s hierarchy. But former Old Trafford midfielder Scholes believes Mourinho should have been axed after Saturday’s 3-1 defeat at West Ham. He said: ‘I am actually surprised he survived after Saturday, the performance was that bad. He’s constantly having a go at players. He’s having a go at those above him because he’s not getting what he wants. I think his mouth is probably out of control and he’s embarrassing the club.’ Mourinho hit back, saying: ‘I don’t need to know what he said. He said what he wants to say. I’m not interested, honestly, I’m not interested. Freedom of speech, free country, you can say what you want.’ Scholes’ former United teammate Rio Ferdinand also told BT Sport Mourinho should take ultimate responsibility for United’s problems. ‘There’s not a work ethic,’ said Ferdinand. ‘The attitude doesn’t seem right. Football’s not easy, you have to work hard. That comes from and is driven by one person at the top — the manager. It falls at his feet.’ Mourinho had repeated his call for the players to give more effort in the match programme, writing: ‘The crest on the chest is more important than the name on the back of the shirt.’ But he insisted after the game: ‘I’m pleased with the effort, the commitment, the improvement, and I’m not pleased, of course, with the result. ‘We had a couple of the biggest chances to win it but I have accepted the result as a fair result. The players tried. They raised the level of their efforts, raised the level of their intensity in spite of the fact we don’t have many with that intensity. ‘We don’t have the technical quality to build from the back. Our attacking players aren’t in their best moments of confidence and individual level.’