Manchester United Icon Slams Defender For Allowing Himself To Be ‘Bullied’ In Match Against Southampton

Manchester United great Paul Scholes has slammed Victor Lindelof for allowing himself to be "bullied" while playing against Southampton in their Premier League outing Monday.

Man Utd dropped points after the match ended in a 2-2 draw. Had Man Utd won the game, they could have jumped to No. 3 in the Premier League table. Since they managed to earn just one point, Man Utd continue to be in fifth place, still outside the Champions League qualification spots. Even though they are equal on points with fourth-placed Leicester City, they have a lower goal difference.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side was 2-1 up against Southampton minutes before the final whistle but was reduced to 10 men after an injury to substitute Brandon Williams. Man Utd had to hold on to the lead for just 30 more seconds to move into the top four for the first time since September. However, Southampton’s 20-year-old forward Michael Obafemi reacted almost instantly to a flick from defender Jan Bednarek to tap-in the equalizer.

The replays of the goal showed that Man Utd defender Lindelof reacted to the flick from Bednarek slowly and was almost outmuscled by the 20-year-old Obafemi at the back of the post before the latter scored.

Scholes, who has been a constant critic of the 25-year-old Lindelof, has once again criticized the defender, saying he was too weak at the back post.

Speaking to Premier League Productions, Scholes said,” Lindelof, I think, has to be a stronger there. He has to be the goal side. He allows himself to get a little bit bullied by the center-forward as he manages to get a foot in. I don’t think Lindelof really reads the danger there as he should do as a center half.”

The final two Champions League spots – No. 3 and No. 4 in the Premier League table – are still up of grabs, with Man Utd, Leicester City, Chelsea and Wolves fighting to finish in the top four. Man Utd’s last three Premier League matches of the campaign include fixtures against Leicester and Chelsea and those games would seal the top four of the table.