PAUL SCHOLES was left red-faced after his overly-confident Europa League final predictions backfired.
The Manchester United legend watched his former side crash to an eventful penalty defeat against Villarreal in Gdansk.
The Red Devils went into the contest as heavy favourites against the Spanish side who had never lifted a major piece of silverware before last night.
But they were humbled by Villarreal with goalkeeper David De Gea missing the crucial penalty.
It appears nobody was more surprised than Scholes at United’s drab performance following his bold predictions.
Before kick-off the pundit told BT Sports: “You’re playing Villarreal here.
“You’re playing a team that finished seventh in a really poor LaLiga.
“Think of Real Madrid and Barcelona, how bad have they been? Manchester United should win this game comfortably.”
Scholes then turned his attentions to Spurs loanee Juan Foyth who was playing as a makeshift right-back.
Foyth, 23, featured just four times for Tottenham last season having struggled to impress in North London.
Scholes added: “Foyth was a bad centre back at Tottenham, now he’s playing right back, how can Rashford not destroy him?!’”
Foyth would keep Rashford quiet for large periods with the United forward enduring a hugely frustrating night.
And lastly Scholes was further mocked for his bold half-time prediction.
With United trailing through Gerard Moreno, he said: “I’m still confident.
“They’ve been in this position a lot of times this season. I think if they’re patient, they’ll open this team up. They’ll get one goal and two or three will come.”
Edinson Cavani did manage to equalise on 55 minutes but United failed to find the all-important second in 65 minutes of football before the 11-10 defeat on penalties.
Fans took to social media to hit out at Scholes with some labelling his comments as ‘arrogant.’
One wrote: “Hearing Paul Scholes express the all-too-common arrogance before the match makes this a bit sweeter.”
A second wrote: “How did that work out, Paul? Learn to respect teams that you don’t even watch.”
A third added: “Paul Scholes disrespected Villarreal before Europa League kick off only for United to get trashed.”
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