Scholes feels Schweinsteiger should contribute more

Matt Stead

Paul Scholes has criticised Bastian Schweinsteiger for his lack of attacking output during his early days at Manchester United.

Schweinsteiger has played every game in the Premier League and Champions League so far this season, but has not scored or provided an assist in 17 games.

The German played a crucial role in United’s winner against Watford via a Troy Deeney goal at the weekend, but club legend Scholes feels he should contribute more.

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

Scholes added: “[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.

“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 – [but] in the centre of the park where it’s most congested, and contribute to your forward players.

On United’s title prospects, Scholes added: “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.

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