Paul Scholes has criticised Manchester United for losing the “wow” factor that entices fans to go to Old Trafford and watch matches, and instead feels that he takes more enjoyment from watching non-League side Salford City or seeing his son play.
United great Scholes has been openly critical of the club since he retired in 2013, having been less than impressed with the reigns of David Moyes and Louis van Gaal.
Having made 718 senior appearances for United, Scholes knows first-hand the excitement of playing in front of over 75,000 people inside the Theatre of Dreams, yet he now believes that there is more excitement offered in non-League football rather than the Premier League.
Scholes famously bought Salford City with fellow ‘Class of 92’ members Nicky Butt, Ryan Giggs and the Neville brother Gary and Phil, and he made the admission in his new book, Class of 92: Out of our League.
"I probably do enjoy watching Salford more," Scholes said. "I don’t know if it’s as much that I don’t like the hassle of going to the game, getting in, sitting in traffic. Going to Salford, I park up behind the goal and get out of my car.
"In the Premier League in the last two years, have I really seen a game of high quality? A game that I’ve thought: “Wow!” It’s difficult to think of any.
"I genuinely get more enjoyment from watching even my son’s team, Royter Town. It’s like a men’s team, but he’s 16. He started playing a few games for them last season. I went to watch him once, it was 5-4. It’s just entertainment.
"There’s some good players, really good players, but it’s not always the best for quality."
United have at least shown signs of old under Jose Mourinho this season, although it took nearly £150m worth of spending on the likes of Paul Pogba, Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Zlatan Ibrahimovic to do so, and they head into this weekend’s derby against fierce rivals Manchester City with a 100 per cent record intact after winning all three of their opening matches against Bournemouth, Southampton and Hull.

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