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Paul Scholes reveals the Man United star who 'worries him to death'

Paul Scholes has revealed the one Manchester United star who 'worries him to death' having watched the Red Devils star in pre-season.

The former Man United midfielder also added that he was 'struggling to get excited for the 2024-25 campaign' despite United ending a largely disappointing season by winning the FA Cup.

United slumped to their worst Premier League finish in history, recording their highest number of defeats, 14, since their 1989-90 campaign under Sir Alex Ferguson.

Questions had revolved around Erik ten Hag's future as the club's manager, but Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his leadership group have opted to keep the Dutch coach on as United boss, having conducted a review into the team's performances.

United, meanwhile, have been looking to strengthen their squad ahead of the upcoming season and have already signed youngsters Leny Yoro and Joshua Zirkzee.

Paul Scholes has revealed the Manchester United star who is 'worrying him to death' 

United have wrapped up their pre-season tour of the USA and will take on Man City in the FA Community Shield on Saturday

Scholes, though, has revealed there is one player among the squad who needs to step up

But it appears Ten Hag has more deals in mind, with United on the hunt for a new midfielder to replace Scott McTominay - should he leave - while the club has also been linked with moves for Bayern Munich defenders Matthias de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui.

Speaking to a special edition of The Overlap's Stick to Football podcast, brought to you by Sky Bet, Scholes fielded questions from football fans over the upcoming campaign.

'I've heard a lot of United fans say how excited they are for the new season... I'm struggling with that,' Scholes said on the Fan Debate.

'We were talking beforehand how the middle of the pitch was just an area that was f***ing empty most of the time - teams just breaking through us all day long.

'I still think there are areas of the pitch which are a problem for United.'

The former midfielder, who returned 153 goals across 713 appearances for the Red Devils subsequently identified the player who he thinks is a big concern for Man United.

'You mentioned the young centre half coming in [Leny Yoro], yeah great, he's 18 years of age, [Lisandro] Martinez is injured a lot. [Harry] Maguire got injured towards the end of the season. No [Victor] Lindelof. No [Raphael] Varane. Varane was good but again injured all the time.'

'But I still watch the goalkeeper [Andre Onana]. The goalkeeper is a big concern for me. I still worry about the goalkeeper. Even watching a couple of the pre-season games.

'I worry to death about him,' Scholes added.

Scholes believes goalkeeper Andre Onana (pictured) is a 'big concern' with the ex-United midfielder having taken stock of some of his pre-season performances 

Scholes (left) also added that he was not feeling that excited for the new season after United's woes in the Premier League during the 2023-24 campaign

The Cameroonian joined Man United last summer in a £47million move from Inter Milan 

Onana was left embarrassed after conceding from distance during his Old Trafford debut back in 2023

Onana scrambled back towards his goal but couldn't stop the ball from going into the net

Onana did not enjoy the best start to his career at Old Trafford, following his £47million move from Inter Milan.

The Cameroonian shot-stopper grew into his role at United as the season progressed, dazzling fans with some exceptional saves, he had left some fans concerned over his abilities on his arrival.

Onana was notably lobbed during his Old Trafford debut last August, during a pre-season friendly against Lens, with Florian Sotoca catching the 28-year-old off his line.

Not long after that Onana again raised eyebrows on his Premier League debut against Wolves, being fortunate to get away with clattering into Sasa Kalajdzic at old Trafford.

While he amassed nine clean sheets last season in the league, he had a difficult time in the Champions League, notably playing a clumsy pass to Casemiro during his side's game against Galatasaray, who would subsequently concede a red card and a penalty, trying to make up for the error.

Scholes also drew from United's pre-season defeat against Liverpool, in which Onana conceded three goals, notably parrying a shot into the path of Kostas Tsimikas, who struck home for the third.

But speaking on what fans can expect from him over the coming season, the goalkeeper said that fans should expect him to take a risks.

'I think it's what you're going to see this season because I will take a lot of risks,' he said during United's pre-season tour of the USA.

Scholes pointed to United's pre-season defeat against Liverpool as part of why he was so concerned

Man United 'keeper Andre Onana clattered into Wolves' Sasa Kalajdzic during his Premier League debut 

Onana, though, has insisted he will take risks this season as he looks to help United succeed in the league

Watch the Overlap 

Paul Scholes was speaking on a special Fan Debate episode of The Overlap's Stick to Football Podcast, brought to you by Sky Bet.  

'I can tell you in advance already. Be prepared because it's going to be this season, trust me. I will enjoy it even more when this season starts.

'The best team in the world takes risks. Building from the back, recognising things, situations, when the opponent jumps one against one, or when they press.'

Source: dailymail.co.uk

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