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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Josh O'Brien

Paul Scholes pinpoints "problem" Bruno Fernandes is causing Man Utd boss Ralf Rangnick

Paul Scholes believes that Bruno Fernandes' is "becoming a problem" for Manchester United following his performance during the draw with Southampton at Old Trafford.

The result marked United's third consecutive 1-1 draw, and continues a worrying trend of Ralf Rangnick's side scoring first only to be pegged back by opponents in recent weeks.

It also ensures United concede further ground in their pursuit of a top four finish, with their Champions League qualification prospects taking another hit with their latest failure.

Just about every player in a United shirt underperformed as Che Adams' equaliser cancelled out Jadon Sancho's first-half opener, but Fernandes - who shone during his first 18 months at the club - was singled out by Scholes for criticism after the full-time whistle.

HAVE YOUR SAY! Is Fernandes becoming a "problem" for Man Utd? Comment below

Bruno Fernandes cut a frustrated figure for much of United's game against Southampton ((Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images))

Speaking while on punditry duty for BT Sport, Scholes explained how the Portugal international is becoming a headache for interim boss Rangnick.

"We don't know what's gone on in the training field, you don't know the attitude of the players," the former United star pondered.

"We're hearing bits and bobs, what's right I don't know, what I would say today was that he seemed to change a lot during the game. At least four or five times he swapped it about.

"He tried to start with a 4-3-3, Scott [McTominay] holding and Fernandes and [Paul] Pogba playing higher up.

"Then he brought Pogba back and shoved Fernandes higher up, I think Fernandes could be a bit of a problem.

"As much as he's a talented lad, when he first came to England he scored so many good goals, so many assists, but he's all over the football pitch."

Scholes went on to bemoan many of the United players venturing out of their designated positions far too often.

"A coach will tell you better there from a defensive point of view, how can you set up a shape when you've no idea where the start of it - [Cristiano] Ronaldo is the start then it's Fernandes - how can you set traps for teams when you don't know where some of your players are gonna be?

"Pogba likes to wander about. You see Fernandes, sometimes he's a right-back, sometimes left-back, the end of the game he's playing behind [Diogo] Dalot for five minutes.

"They're either not taking instructions on or they don't want to."

The result will have gone down well with the likes of Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur, both breathing down United's neck in the race for fourth spot.

West Ham United currently occupy fourth, level with United on 40 points after 24 games played.

That is two games more than Arsenal and three games more than Spurs - both of whom are just one point behind.

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