Paul Scholes explains why Rooney and Schweinsteiger struggle under Van Gaal at Manchester United

Paul Scholes has criticized Van Gaal’s tactics again

Paul Scholes has played down his Manchester United’s chances of winning the Premier League this season, according to ESPN. The former United player stated that the Red Devils are passing too much under Louis van Gaal, and has proclaimed that the side only have a shot at being crowned Premier League champions if rivals Manchester City and Arsenal hit a brick wall.

The Old Trafford club’s victory over Watford saw them catapulted to second in the Premier League, just a point behind high-flying Leicester City. But stats released by BT Sports revealed that United had made an average of 47 passes for every shot on goal, the most in the League. And Scholes says that must be rectified if United wish to be bonafide title contenders.

Speaking before Saturday's triumph at Vicarage Road, Scholes said: “That says everything about them and is typical of the way Manchester United have played this season. [There are] too many passes before getting into the final third, which is why the forwards like Wayne Rooney have struggled. They don't get the service.

“Are they good enough to go on and win the league? I'm not 100 percent convinced – I think Manchester City and Arsenal would have to struggle with injuries and form.

Bastian Schweinsteiger and Wayne Rooney can play better if Van Gaal plays more attacking football according to Scholes

Van Gaal’s tactics sees players like Schweinsteiger struggle: Scholes

The 41-year-old, who is one of Van Gaal’s most open critics, has been criticised by the Dutchman for going public with his opinions. However, Scholes has stated that Van Gaal’s cautious tactics, which has seen them earn the best defensive record in the league at the cost of scoring just 19 goals in 13 games, is crippling players like Bastian Schweinsteiger.

“The two central midfielders play 10 yards behind the centre-halves and play easy passes,” Scholes added. “Schweinsteiger constantly ends up in the left-back position.

“I don't mind that, getting a bit of space if you're going to play it forward or hit a long pass, but he takes too many touches and he's constantly coming back inside. Schweinsteiger claps a backpass to the goalkeeper and he plays every week, so the manager must be happy with the way they play.

“You expect more from Schweinsteiger, a player who's won the World Cup and the Champions League. The biggest art as a midfield player is to find space – not in your back four or left-back position, in the centre of the park where it's most congested, and contribute to your forward players,” Scholes explained.

“Defensively they're brilliant, and that's because they're not contributing going forward.”

Manchester United travel to the King Power Stadium to face Leicester City in Saturday’s late kickoff this weekend in what is now a top-of-the-table clash.