Paul Scholes hasn’t found much to like about Manchester United under Ruben Amorim, but the club did something after his sacking that the former midfielder has been calling for.
Amorim often felt that the strong opinions of ex-players turned pundits were shaping decisions at Old Trafford, and it became a source of frustration during his time in charge.
That only seemed to make things worse. His public pushback led to even harsher criticism from figures like Scholes, making it an endless cycle.
Scholes will have taken notice when Manchester United finally did something he’s long been pushing for – even if it came too late for Amorim’s tenure.
Scholes gets what he wanted as Man United change hits Burnley
Even before kick-off against Burnley, Ineos had already met one of Scholes’ long-standing requests: a return to the club’s roots.
Darren Fletcher, who knows the club inside out from his academy days and experience under various managers, embodies that tradition as well as anyone.
Scholes often said Amorim’s style didn’t fit what he considered the “United way” — fast, direct wing play with a striker focused on finishing in the box.
He believed it would take someone trained in that system to get it right, and Fletcher showed why with how United played in the second half.
Some questioned Fletcher’s choice to use Patrick Dorgu on the left wing instead of at full-back or on the right, but it led directly to United’s second goal.
The move was classic Sir Alex-era football. Dorgu stayed high and wide, beat his man down the line, and delivered a dangerous cross into the box.
Benjamin Sesko got ahead of his marker and finished smartly past the goalkeeper. In a time when inverted wingers and deeper forwards are common, it was a clear nod to how Ferguson’s teams used to play — something Scholes will have appreciated seeing return under Fletcher.
Blending Old and New Tactics Is Key for United’s Success
It was encouraging to see Fletcher bring some of that traditional United style back against Burnley, especially with the second goal looking like something straight out of the club’s past. But they can’t rely solely on nostalgia.
The game has changed, and that’s why Scholes often gets criticised for his focus on the past.
Those kinds of goals need to complement a broader attacking approach, one that combines clever movement and link-up play with the more classic crossing and finishing.
There has to be a balance between Amorim’s rigid structure and a system that relies purely on individual flair.
Finding common ground between those two approaches is what builds successful teams. And while returning to their roots is a good step forward, it was clear under Amorim that United were drifting away from both.
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