Scholes questions United’s title prospects with current defence

Former Manchester United midfielder Paul Scholes said the club would not win the Premier League with Harry Maguire and Lisandro Martínez as its centre-back pairing, arguing that the defence needs significant changes after Tottenham Hotspur’s late equaliser. Scholes made the assessment on The Good, The Bad, The Football podcast after United drew 1-1 with Tottenham. United led through Bryan Mbeumo’s 73rd-minute goal, and Tottenham were reduced to 10 men when Rodrigo Bentancur was sent off. Dominic Solanke equalised in stoppage time with a header, leaving United unable to secure the win. Scholes focused on Martínez’s physical contest with Solanke before the goal. He said Martínez was a good player on the ball but should not have been outmuscled in that situation. Scholes described the defending as criminal and said United needed a new back four. His comments were an assessment of the team’s prospects, not a confirmed outcome or an established prediction about future title races. The former United player also questioned whether the club had adequately addressed its centre-back positions in recent seasons.