Erik ten Hag’s team won in Spain but it wasn’t enough to top Manchester United’s Europa League group, (Picture: Getty Images)

Paul Scholes believes Manchester United ‘became a mess’ in the second half of their victory at Real Sociedad, criticising Erik ten Hag’s substitutions and tactics.

The Red Devils won the game 1-0 thanks to a first goal for the club for Alejandro Garnacho, but they needed to win by two or more to beat the Spaniards to the top of their Europa League group.

With United pushing for a second goal in the second half, Scott McTominay replaced Victor Lindelof and Marcus Rashford took the place of Donny van de Beek just before the hour mark.

While they were aggressive replacements, Scholes feels it turned the team into a mess and could not understand Ten Hag’s thinking.

‘I think it got a bit messy that second half, I’m not too sure what he was trying to achieve,’ Scholes told BT Sport.

‘I think it started with the Lindelof substitution, United first half were in complete control, Lindelof’s substitution puts Casemiro into the back four or back three, whatever it ended up.

‘Marcus Rashford comes on for Van de Beek as a number 10 and it’s not Marcus’ position, he needs to be on the shoulder of people, he needs to be out wide, in space receiving the ball.

‘[Harry] Maguire goes up top and it becomes a long ball game. I’m all for that, it can work, but second half I just thought…after being in complete control, it became a mess.’

Ten Hag was asked about his thinking in the second half in San Sebastian, admitting it did not go well, but that he was forced into taking risks.

‘To bring extra offensive players in, but at that moment we were a little bit too erratic,’ he said of his plan. ‘We didn’t work that good on the ball any more. So we bring less balls in the box. That process didn’t work well.

‘I think the last 10 minutes we got the ball in the box and created a good chance. That was the idea, we had to take risks and that is what we did.’

United still progress to the knockout stages but face tougher potential opposition, with the clubs finishing third in their Champions League groups now possible opponents.

MORE : Paul Scholes says Manchester United teenager Alejandro Garnacho has rare talent for wide player

MORE : Manchester United could play Barcelona, Juventus or Ajax in Europa League play-off

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‘I’m not too sure what he was trying to achieve.’