Paul Scholes explains what Manchester United should've done differently to handle Erling Haaland

03.10.2022 - 15:09 / manchestereveningnews.co.uk

Former midfielder Paul Scholes believes Manchester United should have done "something different" to stop Erling Haaland by any means necessary during their 6-3 defeat by Manchester City on Sunday afternoon.

Haaland continued his sensational start to life in England, scoring a hat-trick to take his tally of goals for the season so far in all competitions to 17. He bullied United's defence and got his first goal of the contest by towering above everyone inside the box to head home from a corner.

The Norwegian's other two goals came from him being in the right place at the right time to anticipate balls into the box that he connected with via his feet.

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For Scholes, who appreciated that Haaland is incredibly difficult to try and stop, United should have done more to try and stop his runs.

Scholes, speaking on Premier League Productions, said: "He is virtually impossible to stop, but you have got to try and find a way. But as a Manchester United defender, in those situations, you can't always match-up against these big players; you have to do something different if you are a smaller player.

"You have got to do something to try and stop him, even if it was just trying to stop a run. They just weren't streetwise enough and he was so easy to play against, meaning it ended up being an embarrassing performance, first half especially."

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