Even Lionel Messi would struggle at Manchester United under Jose Mourinho, says Paul Scholes

Paul Scholes believes even Lionel Messi would struggle to thrive in the current Manchester United team.

Scholes has been an outspoken critic of his former club in his role as a pundit. Having watched his side lose three times in their opening eight matches of the Premier League season, the former midfielder expected Jose Mourinho to be sacked following a September defeat to West Ham.

"I think his mouth is probably out of control and I think he's embarrassing the club,” he said last month.

United are already seven points behind Manchester City, Liverpool and Chelsea and Scholes says his former side are now being laughed at by their biggest rivals.

"That shouldn't make any difference but it does," Scholes told ESPN. "United now feels like Liverpool from years ago, like we're making all the same mistakes as they did.

"We were watching Liverpool and City from afar and smirking as they changed managers and players every year, never getting anything right. It feels like we have turned into a Liverpool or a Man City.

"I feel like people at Liverpool and Man City are looking at us and laughing like we did at them many years ago."

Mourinho has spent reported fees of over £350million since arriving at Old Trafford in 2016.

Despite that, he has clashed with the club's hierarchy over recruitment while costly signings including Alexis Sanchez and Paul Pogba have failed to flourish under his management.

Scholes continued: "I don't think there's a lack of quality there. I do think they miss a couple of real class players that other top teams seem to have - a link player between the midfield and the forwards and also a controlling midfield player.

"It feels like every player who comes into the team struggles. I feel like we could sign Lionel Messi at the moment and he'd struggle in this team.

"I think (Mourinho) still is (a great manager), but you wonder why his side keep getting outplayed.

"People talk about the first 10 games of this season but last year it was the same. The reason we finished second last year was because of the goalkeeper (David De Gea)."

Additional reporting from Press Asssociation