Exclusive: Man Utd in ‘terrible position’ in Champions League ahead of must-win Copenhagen clash – Paul Scholes

Paul Scholes says Manchester United are in a “terrible position” in the UEFA Champions League after their “complete disaster” against Galatasaray and can’t afford any more slip-ups.

The Red Devils welcome FC Copenhagen to Old Trafford on Tuesday, live on TNT Sports and discovery+, after failing to pick up a point in their opening two Group A matches.

The upcoming double-header with Copenhagen, who United face in the Danish capital in gameweek four on November 8, could prove decisive, as Scholes thinks at least 10 points will be required from the next four games.

“This week is vitally important. They’re in a terrible position after losing to Galatasaray, that first home game was a complete disaster,” Scholes said in an exclusive interview with TNT Sports.

United go into the game on the back of two consecutive Premier League wins, but Scholes isn’t convinced those results are a sign of improvement.

“I’m not sure how much confidence the two wins in the Premier League will give them,” Scholes said.

“One of them was scraped through [against Brentford], and again the performance wasn’t great again on Saturday night against a team you would expect to be relegated [Sheffield United].

“They’re just not firing at the minute. I’m not sure what the issue is, there seems to be a lot of changes all the time, they can’t seem to get a consistent team, whether it’s through injuries or suspensions, whatever it may be.

“But they need to win this game, there’s no doubt about it, and they probably need to win three of the next four games in the Champions League.”

For Scholes, failing to finish in the top two spots and earn a place in the last 16 would be especially disappointing considering what he views as a kind group-stage draw.

“It would be a major disappointment if they don’t get through this group,” Scholes said.

“It should’ve been a relatively easy group to get out of and they have made it big trouble.

“The first game against Bayern Munich, you wouldn’t expect them to get much out of that, a draw possibly, and it wasn’t good enough on the night.

“The disappointment was the Galatasaray game. It will be a major disappointment to go back into the Europa League or even worse, not qualify at all.

“This is Manchester United. Look, you’re not looking at a team now thinking they can go on and win the Champions League, but it’s a team that should at least be getting out of the group.”

He added: “They’ve got to find a way of stopping goals as well and be consistent defensively. The manager does say it’s not about individuals, it’s about the whole team attacking and defending and at this point they don’t seem to get any of it right.”

One cause for United optimism recently has been the form of midfielder Scott McTominay, who has scored three goals in the last two games to fire the Red Devils to back-to-back wins.

The 26-year-old has replicated his superb form for Scotland, after scoring six goals in six games during Euro 2024 qualifying – a tally only bettered by Romelu Lukaku, Cristiano Ronaldo, Harry Kane and Rasmus Hojlund.

Scholes, who scored 155 goals from midfield for United during his playing days, believes that the upturn in form is a result of McTominay finally being used in the correct role.

“He’s shown really good strength of character because he’s been left out, other people have played in his position, there are some younger players in his position. He will have been hurting,” said Scholes.

“He’s always a player I felt could score goals from midfield. He’s a brilliant athlete, he’s got great technique, I think he’s more than capable.

“He almost got pigeon-holed by trying to be a holding midfielder with Fred and it didn’t quite work. They took a little bit of stick together.

“But I never felt that was his best position, or that he was great at controlling a game. I don’t think that was his strength.

“His strength is to use his athleticism to get forward and back, he can do everything as an all-round midfield player.

“He’s got the technical ability to do it, he’s got an eye for goal, as we’ve seen with Scotland especially, and now with United in the last few weeks.”

Scholes tipped Newcastle United to “win comfortably” against Borussia Dortmund following their impressive 4-1 thrashing of PSG last time out.

Furthermore, the former England international believes there are similarities between Eddie Howe’s men and the Leeds United side that stunned Europe by going on a run to the semi-finals in 2000/01.

“It’s impressive but it’s no surprise,” Scholes said of Newcastle’s form in Europe.

“These new teams that come into it, they have a different hunger towards it. They’re a little bit unknown to a lot of teams.

“The atmosphere and players at Newcastle will be something that is unknown to the PSG players, it will be unknown to Borussia Dortmund. We in England know all about it and how special that atmosphere can be.

“I think it’ll be quite similar to what Leeds did a good few years ago, when they came into the Champions League and were brilliant at home and a bit of a surprise to teams – I think Newcastle could do something similar.

“Their home ground was a special atmosphere as well and I think there are some similarities between them and Newcastle.”