Paul Scholes accuses Man Utd star of ‘sulking’ just hours after praising him

Manchester United legend Paul Scholes made it clear that he was disappointed with how Alejandro Garnacho performed against Real Sociedad in their Europa League Round of 16 tie

Paul Scholes expressed frustration with Alejandro Garnacho for ‘sulking’ against Real Sociedad, just hours after saying the Manchester United winger had to play more.

Garnacho, 20, has impressed in patches during what has been a difficult few months for United and their new head coach, Ruben Amorim. They are currently languishing in 14th place in the Premier League after a string of disappointing results.

The winger grabbed an assist in United’s 1-1 draw with Real Sociedad in the first leg of their Europa League Round of 16 tie before being subbed off near the end of the game.

Garnacho cut a frustrated figure as he watched the remainder of the match and the youngster was a topic of discussion following the draw for Scholes and Karen Carney.

Carney felt that Garnacho may have been struggling with injury or fatigue, but Scholes accused him of ‘sulking’ during TNT Sports’ post-match coverage after citing his lack of energy.

“He looks like he’s sulking a bit,” Scholes said. “I’m not having the fatigue thing.

“I was a little disappointed with Garnacho because his biggest strength is running through. He gives you penetration. Sometimes he makes the wrong decisions or plays the wrong ball but he just lacked a bit of energy tonight.

“Little bit of sulkiness, I think. I’m sure he will get better and he needs to get better because they haven’t really got anyone else to call upon.”

While Scholes wasn’t impressed with Garnacho in that particular moment, he was full of praise for the Argentina international earlier in the evening, saying Amorim had to play the winger going forward.

Garnacho is one of few players who has impressed in dispatches this season, though he was linked with a move away in the January transfer window.

“I think Garnacho has to play,” Scholes said before the Real Sociedad game. “I think there has been a little bit of criticism lately, but he’s the one player who can give penetration that he will run through.

“He doesn’t always make the best decisions, he doesn’t always take the right finishes. He’s a player that is so quick and players that separate themselves from the better players, when you’re so quick, you get into certain positions, you slow yourself down almost and you see things, things come to you quite easily.

“He hasn’t quite got that in his game yet. He’s still a young player, but he has to play simply because of the penetration. He’s the one player that can run through and score you a goal.”

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