Paul Scholes has something nice to say about Manchester United this season.
That’s not exactly been common over the last seven months but the former United midfielder has found a positive nugget in the current team and that’s the way that certain youth players have stepped up to the mark when required.
Louis van Gaal has awarded debuts to fourteen academy players since taking over at Old Trafford and he’s been rewarded handsomely with most of the promoted players rising to the occasion.
One such player is Marcus Rashford who burst onto the scene with four goals in his first two games and Scholes is adamant that he always knew there was something special in the teenager.
Speaking to fanzine United We Stand, Scholes said: “Marcus Rashford, however, is no surprise to me at all. I’ve seen him play since he was 14 or 15 and then in Paul McGuinness’ side. You always knew the talent was there. He’s obviously only played a few times for the first team and his goals have been what you’d call ‘goalscorers’ goals’ but he’s got much so much more than that.
“You’ve not seen it yet, but he hits free-kicks in a dipping fashion, almost the way Ronaldo does.”
And, in typical Scholes fashion, he was reluctant to give too much credit to van Gaal for picking so many youngsters as Scholes believes his hands were tied due to the injury crisis around Old Trafford.
“The manager has taken a lot of credit giving these youngsters a chance, but they’ve been very lucky really with the amount of injuries United have had,” he added.
“If it wasn’t for that, most of these young lads wouldn’t have been anywhere near the first team yet. If anything, it’s probably shown how bad his signings have been that these young lads have come in and and have looked brilliant in comparison.”