Talent doesn’t always translate to leadership.
Some of the greatest footballers of all time have not had what it takes to be great captains.
And it certainly raised a few eyebrows when Juan Mata led Manchester United out against Liverpool in the Europa League on Thursday night.
The likes of David de Gea and Chris Smalling were overlooked by Louis van Gaal who handed the captain’s armband to Mata this week and it didn’t sit well with United legend Paul Scholes.
“How is Juan Mata captain?” Scholes asked Jamie Carragher in an interview with the Daily Mail.
“He’s a good player and he’s had a good month. But to be captain of Manchester United?
“I don’t think there are many real leaders in there. Chris Smalling? The goalkeeper? They, possibly, could be captain but are they real Manchester United captains?”
United were bested 2-0 on Thursday which means that a Liverpool goal at Old Trafford will require four from the Red Devils to progress and after questioning the decision to play Marouane Fellaini at Anfield, Scholes appeared disgusted with how players like Mata went missing at Anfield.
“Martial and Mata were ineffective here,” Scholes added. “They got bullied.
“Mata looked like a 10-year-old at times. Memphis? You just don’t know what you are going to get from him.
“But you need to get the ball to these players to see what they can do. They will have more time to do that at Old Trafford.”
