Former midfielder Paul Scholes insisted that David de Gea, Tyrell Malacia and Fred failed to cover themselves in glory for Barcelona's opening goal during Thursday night's 2-2 draw with Manchester United in the Europa League at the Camp Nou.
After a goalless first half, the game exploded into life just five minutes after the restart when former Chelsea defender Marcos Alonso headed in from a corner. The Spaniard rose highest, unchallenged, to meet Raphinha's delivery and plant a relatively tame header past De Gea.
Alonso, who was a surprise inclusion at centre-back, peeled away from Malacia and effortlessly got above Fred to meet the ball, resulting in United falling behind in very soft fashion. Fortunately, of course, they recovered well and turned the game on its head in the space of just nine minutes, inspired by yet more brilliance by Marcus Rashford, who scored one and then made another.
READ MORE: Marcus Rashford makes surprise statement about United's draw vs Barcelona
But even though United were later pegged back, it did not do enough to dent what was an impressive performance and, on the face of it, a good result. Nevertheless, Scholes was unimpressed with the way United conceded Barcelona's opener.
"When you look at the first goal it is Malacia who doesn't pick up Alonso, he lets him free, really," Scholes told BT Sport. "It is only a basic bit of movement from Alonso that loses him too.
"Fred as well, probably didn't challenge as well as he could. It is a basic bit of movement from Alonso and Malacia doesn't stay with him.
"I also think the goalkeeper should do better, it goes in quite easily at that near post. David looks a little bit worried about colliding with the post.
"But Malacia there, he has to stay with him and when he doesn't, Fred has to cover, 'my mate has made a mistake, I've got to cover for him'. But he doesn't do that."
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