Manchester United picked up a 0-0 draw at Aston Villa on Sunday afternoon but Paul Scholes has been left concerned by one factor.
Erik ten Hag faced a huge week after losing 3-0 at home to Tottenham Hotspur.
Defeats on the road at Porto and Aston Villa could have left Ten Hag clinging onto his job in the Old Trafford dugout.
Manchester United avoided defeat in both games but two draws away from home haven’t exactly brought clarity.
United threw away a 2-0 lead at Porto before a late Harry Maguire rescued a 3-3 draw.
The trip to Villa Park then saw United shore up at the back but struggle going forward in a 0-0 stalemate.
Paul Scholes on Jonny Evans
United’s performances under Ten Hag still simply aren’t good enough and haven’t inspired much confidence for the future.
Sunday’s draw at least showed that United can tighten up at the back at times and Jonny Evans was key to that.
The veteran centre back was brought in to start alongside Harry Maguire at Villa Park and turned in a superb display.
Evans has been praised by Graham Potter for a defending ‘masterclass’ and fans voted Evans as the clear Man of the Match against Villa.
The Northern Irishman hasn’t let United down when called upon ever since returning to the club from Leicester City in 2023.
Paul Scholes has now offered a mixed verdict on Evans after Sunday’s trip to the West Midlands.
United legend Scholes told Premier League Productions (06/10, 7:30pm) that he loves how Evans just understands the expectations level at Manchester United.
Scholes noted that Evans deserves credit for turning in such strong performances at his age.
However, Scholes feels that Evans stepping up as United’s best centre back shows ‘something isn’t quite right’ given his advancing years.
“Johnny knows the way of Manchester United,” said Scholes.
“36 years of age, I think, he is, and you have got to give him every credit. He was good today. Just something that feels a little bit wrong about it to me to have a player who has come back after so long.
“He just came to train with the team, to be able to keep fit, and another year later he’s Manchester United’s best centre-half. That tells you that something isn’t quite right,” he added.
More questions than answers in Manchester United defence
Scholes has a point here.
United have invested huge money in five centre backs at the club right now; Victor Lindelof, Harry Maguire, Lisandro Martinez, Leny Yoro and Matthijs de Ligt.
Lindelof is a bit-part player right now, Maguire is much-criticised and is injured again, Yoro has yet to feature in a competitive game due to injury, Martinez has really struggled in the early weeks of this season and De Ligt is yet to show his best form.
All that money, all the resources spent on those players and it’s Jonny Evans who Ten Hag can rely on the most right now.
Evans was welcomed back to United to keep fit in 2023 as he left Leicester City on a free transfer.
United ended up giving Evans a deal and he is showing more than a lot of his more expensive teammates.
Perhaps it’s a mentality thing with Evans coming from the Sir Alex Ferguson era, but many United teammates could learn a thing or two from Evans.
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