Paul Scholes names one thing that has stopped Erik ten Hag taking Man Utd to the ‘next level’

Paul Scholes claimed Manchester United’s recruitment over the summer has prevented the team moving onto the ‘next level’.

The Red Devils were beaten 4-3 by Bayern Munich on Wednesday night, although Erik ten Hag’s side were convincingly beaten by a much better side at the Allianz Arena. It continues a difficult start to the season for United, who have now lost four of the opening six in all competitions.

Speaking after the Bayern loss, Scholes claimed United have a ‘weakness’ to them this season, similar to the beginning of last term, while he said his former team are nowhere near competing for silverware in the Premier League or Champions League.

“It was almost as if they [Bayern] were waiting for Man United to score, ‘here we go, we’ll turn it on again’,” the ex-midfielder said on TNT Sports. “United have had spells in every game they’ve lost this season where they’ve done ok, but it’s not enough.

“There’s a softness there, a weakness there. Once they concede one there’s no-one to say ‘right, five minutes, we stay in this game’. Before you know it, it’s two goals and they’re too far behind.

“As the manager said, there are too many players making individual mistakes. The goalkeeper [Andre Onana], unfortunately, gets highlighted because of the position he’s in. But as I said before, I think this is going to be an almost identical season to last year. I think they’re a cup team; they can possibly win the FA Cup, the League Cup, but they’re not at this level yet.

“I thought the manager came in last year and really consolidated and brought them back to somewhere near where they should be, but I think the summer has hindered him in terms of getting to that next level. We saw tonight that they’re not at this level.”

Speaking before the match, Scholes offered a similar opinion, and said the additions in the transfer window have not brought in enough quality. “I think they’re on a very similar track to where they were last season. They had a really hard start and they’ve had a difficult start again this season.

“I thought after last season they were going somewhere, you felt like Ten Hag was taking this club somewhere, he sorted the discipline in the team. I thought this summer ‘is he going to spend £200m to take this club to a different level?’. I don’t think the signings did that. I think they made the squad stronger, I don’t think he made it better or into a team that challenges for a league title or this competition that they’re in tonight. He’s made it deeper.”