Former Manchester United midfielder Paul Scholes criticised Bruno Fernandes' post-match comments following Manchester United's defeat to Hull City in their opening Premier League fixture.

Manchester United lost 0-2 at the MKM Stadium on Saturday, conceding both goals from set pieces in the first half. Newly promoted Hull City had been widely considered relegation favourites.

After the match, Manchester United captain Fernandes complained to the media, stating that the team made "the same mistakes as in away matches last season." The Portuguese midfielder also said: "In every away match, we lose possession too much. In the first 20 minutes, the goalkeeper touched the ball the most."

"We need to press more, be more aggressive, and we also need to work harder at set pieces—we can't concede goals like that. Against teams like this, they're just waiting for their moment."

However, Scholes questioned Fernandes' comments on a podcast.

"I'd like to know what he actually means by that. What mistakes?" said the 51-year-old former player.

"Especially considering how he himself played, I think he'd have been better off saying nothing. His own performance wasn't great either."

Scholes and former Manchester United striker Dion Dublin went on to say that Fernandes and teammate Luke Shaw both speaking out after the match undermined manager Michael Carrick's authority. Shaw said after the match: "This isn't our standard, we know that. I think overall, as a collective, we could have prepared better. Especially knowing how strong they are at set pieces and what threat they pose."

Responding to the left-back's comments, Scholes said: "Luke Shaw always has something to say. He's implicitly criticising your coaching staff, and he's also implicitly criticising your manager. If one of your players said something like that, you'd think, bloody hell, you'd need to call them in on Monday morning."

Dublin stated: "What you need is silence. If the captain has to speak, then he should speak, but he also needs to make sure what he says doesn't make things worse. You can't give ammunition to anyone, because your performance has already given them ammunition."

Scholes added: "The problem with these comments isn't just about respect, but you're talking about fear of the manager and what he said before, and these comments implicitly criticise the manager and coaching staff. If we as players had said something like that to Sir Alex Ferguson, 'We weren't ready,' bloody hell, you'd have been called in straight away, and he'd probably have called you in front of the whole team."

Dublin also previously stated that Carrick's biggest challenge was breaking his close relationships with the players to establish authority.

"The hardest thing is that during his time as interim manager, he was like a friend and colleague to the players. Now that he's officially in charge, the hardest thing is severing those bonds, and I think that will be difficult for a good man like Michael."

"But now he's the manager, he needs to stop with 'How are you, mate,' 'How's it going, buddy,' 'Want a drink.' That can't happen now. Now it is: I'm the manager, you're the player. Do what I say."

Meanwhile, Scholes also discussed Maguire's positioning error on set piece defending during Hull City's opening goal from a corner.

The centre-back initially placed his hand on teammate Noussair Mazraoui, and then Júnior Ajayi, the player he was supposed to be marking, headed the ball in.

Scholes said: "The only thing I can think is he lost his defensive position. He sees the ball, feels someone in front of him, and then grabs them like that."

"That doesn't look good, does it? I'd like to hear his explanation."

Manchester United return home on Sunday to face another newly promoted side, Ipswich Town.

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