‘Crazy!’: Ex-Manchester United duo slam players and defend Ralf Rangnick amid ‘unfair’ criticism

Former Manchester United duo Paul Scholes and Paul Ince have slammed the current squad at Old Trafford - while defending interim manager Ralf Rangnick.

The Red Devils are winless in their last three games in all competitions, with their last two Premier League outings ending in 1-1 draws.

And while United could climb into the top four with victory over Brighton & Hove Albion on Tuesday evening, Arsenal hold two games in hand on Rangnick’s side.

Recent results have seen the German - who is charge of the team until the end of the current campaign - come in for some scrutiny.

But Scholes and Ince are united in their belief that the brunt of the criticism should fall on the players rather than Rangnick.

Speaking to the Daily Mail, Ince said: “When things aren’t going well and results aren’t going well it’s only natural to direct it at the manager, but this is an issue that’s been built up for many years.

“It’s been a bit unfair for Rangnick because he has come into a situation where there are a few issues.

“It sounds like to me there is some fragmentations in the dressing room and it is showing on the pitch.”

“The players have to take responsibility,” he continued.

“The players are the ones picking up £300,000 a week, £400,000 a week. They’re the ones looking to go out and do the business, that’s what they’re paid for and at the moment they’re not playing to the highest level.”

BT Sport pundit Scholes, meanwhile, questioned whether the United players wanted to do the ‘ugly side’ of the game.

And the former midfielder feels that Rangnick is ‘trying his best’ to deliver results at Old Trafford.

“These Manchester United players do not want to do the ugly side of the game,” he said.

“You watch the game and it is glaringly obvious that the players do not want to put a shift in for this club, which is crazy really.

“From what I saw, I don’t think the players were working hard enough to stop another team play football.

“You look at the team sheet. There are a lot of very good players in that team – you could name every one of them.

“But with talent you have to work hard as well. I feel sorry for the manager because he is clearly trying his best to set his team up to play against this type of team (Southampton) and they are either not listening, can’t do it or don’t want to do it.”