Paul Scholes believes Manchester United ‘have their club back’ now Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has replaced Jose Mourinho

Scholes was a critic of Mourinho's ‘embarrassing’ and ‘out of control’ tennure

Mark Critchley
Wednesday 23 January 2019 15:14 EST
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Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's Manchester United aim for top four

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Paul Scholes believes that Manchester United ‘have their club back’ now that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has succeeded Jose Mourinho.

Scholes was an outspoken critic of Mourinho, accusing the Portuguese of “embarrassing” the club and being “out of control” during the final months of his reign.

United have since appointed former striker Solskjaer on a caretaker basis and the Norwegian has made a 100 per cent start, winning all of his first seven games in charge.

Scholes has gained a reputation for straight-talking as a pundit and, when it was put to him United’s play had become ponderous under Mourinho, he offered his own adjective: “Shite.”

The former United midfielder agreed, however, that his old club have found their way again under Solskjaer.

“It does give you that feeling,” he said. “Since Ole has come back you feel like you’ve got your club back.

“You don’t ever feel like you’ve lost it, I suppose, but it just feels like you’ve got someone there who knows Man United.

“He’s been a player, you look at Ole and he’s a United man. I know he’s had jobs at other clubs but he’s a United person. You’d almost feel welcome there again.”

With a former team-mate back in the Old Trafford dugout, Scholes admitted that it is “strange” there are not more of his generation still working at the club.

Paul Scholes accused Jose Mourinho of 'embarrassing' Manchester United
Paul Scholes accused Jose Mourinho of 'embarrassing' Manchester United (Getty)

Nicky Butt, who works as the head of United’s academy, is the only member of the ‘Class of ‘92’ to currently be employed by the club.

Others have sought opportunities elsewhere. Ryan Giggs is the manager of Wales and Phil Neville takes charges of England Women.

Scholes, meanwhile, is in line to be appointed as the new manager of Oldham, though would neither confirm nor deny those reports on Wednesday.

The former England international instead revealed that Sir Alex Ferguson was keen for the Class of ‘92 to have a role at United, though those plans never transpired.

Sir Alex wanted the Class of 92 to have an involvement at Manchester United
Sir Alex wanted the Class of 92 to have an involvement at Manchester United (Man Utd via Getty Images)

“Yeah, it is a little bit strange, I think it was always the manager’s idea that he would have us all involved in some capacity,” he said.

“He went at the same time, we retired together the second time. I think in an ideal world he would have liked that but, it didn't happen for a year or so and people got other interests.

“Salford obviously took a big chunk of that, people went into different stuff. Gary went into management, Ryan is now at Wales.

“I think the manager always wanted something similar to a Bayern Munich or an Ajax where there is always ex-players there involved in the club, but it just has not happened.

“A lot changed at the club, obviously David Gill changed as well. It could have been different, it couldn't have been. I just don't know.”

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