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Man Utd news: Scholes says one United star has affected Paul Pogba - ‘He needs coaching’
MANCHESTER UNITED striker Romelu Lukaku is currently having a negative effect on the performance of Paul Pogba because of his lack of movement up front.
Romelu Lukaku misplaces pass during Man United training
That is the verdict of BT Sport pundit and former Manchester United star Paul Scholes.
Scholes was speaking after United’s drab 0-0 Champions League draw with Valencia last night.
He was disappointed in the performance of Lukaku and says his movement is “non-existent”.
Scholes says star midfielder Paul Pogba needs a striker to make runs ahead of him but that is currently not the case with Lukaku.
Lukaku’s disappointing, his movement is non-existent at the minute. It looks like he needs coaching
“Lukaku’s disappointing, his movement is non-existent at the minute,” Scholes said.
“It looks like he needs coaching and telling where to run into.
“There was a couple of occasions where Paul’s hit good balls in for him, but they’re not balls that he’s making a run for, they’re balls he’s being made to chase.
“Paul needs that, midfield players need that.”
Scholes’ co-pundit and former Manchester United team-mate Rio Ferdinand agreed.
He says Lukaku is reacting to Pogba’s passes, rather than Pogba reacting to Lukaku’s runs.
“A striker really should be telling the midfielder ‘play the ball there because I’m going’,” Ferdinand said.
“They run and the midfielder will see that run and they’ll play it.
Man United: Mourinho and Pogba return to training ground
“It’s the other way around at the moment.
“Paul’s passing the ball and Lukaku’s reacting to that. It’s the wrong way round.”
United's draw with Valencia leaves Jose Mourinho's side second in Group F.
Juventus are top having won their first two games of the competition.