Paul Scholes has claimed that he is struggling to watch former club Manchester United this season due to manager Louis van Gaal being obsessed with keeping possession.
United have lost just one of their last 15 Premier League games to climb up to third place in the table, although their style of play has come in for major criticism in recent weeks.
West Ham United boss Sam Allardyce accused the Red Devils of being a ‘long-ball side’ earlier this week, while Burnley became the latest team to outplay Van Gaal’s men during Tuesday night’s match at Old Trafford.
That has led to cries of “attack, attack, attack” from the stands, with supporters growing frustrated by an apparent lack of pace and penetration.
In his column for The Independent Scholes echoed these views, saying: “It does not give me any pleasure to say that at the moment I am struggling to watch Louis van Gaal’s team with any great enjoyment.
“At times, United’s football is miserable. To beat opposing teams you have to attack, and to attack you have to take risks. Too few of the players in the current team are prepared to take those risks.
“Angel Di Maria has taken more risks than any other player and, unfortunately, for him it has not worked out. There seems to be an emphasis on possession. I would go further than that: there is an obsession with possession.”