Arya News - Former Manchester United midfielder Paul Scholes says he would swap his old club’s season for Arsenal’s even if they go on to win the Europa League.Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty ImagesPaul Scholes t...
Paul Scholes told TNT Sports that he believes Manchester United have “clearly sacrificed the league” in order to try and win the Europa League, and it’s an approach he doesn’t like or agree with.
“I think the manager should be using this time to learn how to win games when you’re not playing that well, because it’s going to happen again next year,” Scholes said.
“I don’t think you can just switch a button next season and, all of a sudden, you’re going to see them play brilliantly in the league.”
Photo by Ion Alcoba Beitia/Getty Images
Scholes went on to compare Ruben Amorim to Mikel Arteta , suggesting he’d prefer Arsenal’s last 12 months over United’s.
“I think Mikel Arteta has done an absolutely brilliant job at Arsenal since he first joined the club,” Scholes said. “He could possibly finish second for the third year in a row and I think Ruben Amorim can take a lot from what Arteta has done over these last five to six years at Arsenal.
“Imagine if Amorim can get United up to second in the Premier League and into the semi-final of the Champions League in the next three or four years. I would swap United’s season this year for Arsenal’s campaign even if they go on and win the Europa League. All day long.”
Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images
There has been some debate recently over whether the potential for Europa League success makes up for Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur’s terrible Premier League campaigns, and whether Arsenal’s trophyless season cancels out the fact they’ve had a much stronger year on average.
The fact is, one of Manchester United and Spurs will win a trophy and secure Champions League qualification next week, despite probably both finishing in the bottom five domestically.
Yet United legend Scholes isn’t the only person to suggest Europa League success doesn’t solve all of the club’s problems, with manager Ruben Amorim admitting the same.
“I feel embarassed when looking at the Premier League table,” Amorim said last week. “For me, it doesn’t matter if we win the Europa League because the problems are much bigger than that.”
The debate will rage on, but those around United are rightly very unhappy with this season, however it ends.