Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho has taken aim at Paul Scholes for the former midfielder's 'criticism' of Paul Pogba.

Scholes has been outspoken in his views on the Red Devils since becoming a pundit, and the 43-year-old questioned the influence of Pogba following United's goalless draw with Southampton in the Premier League at the weekend.

Pogba starred in his team's 2-0 victory at Everton on New Year's Day, however, with the Frenchman captaining the 20-time English champions to an important win at Goodison Park.

Mourinho has seemingly taken exception to the criticism from Scholes, claiming that it is no-one's fault that Pogba "made much more money" than the club's legendary midfielder.

"I think the only thing Paul Scholes does is to criticise. I don't think he comments, I think he criticises, which is a different thing," Mourinho told reporters. "But not every one of us has to be phenomenal like he was as a player. He was a phenomenal player, that doesn't mean that we all have to be phenomenal.

"Paul [Pogba] tries to do his best all the time. Sometimes he plays very well and sometimes he doesn't play so well. It's not Paul's fault that he made much more money than Paul Scholes. It's not Paul's fault. It's just the way football is.

"But I think Scholes will be in the history like a phenomenal player, not as a pundit, so I prefer to look at him as a phenomenal player who gave so much to the club that I am proud to represent. If Paul one day decides to be a manager I wish that he can be 25% as successful as myself, because 25% of 25 [trophies] is around six. So if he's 25% he'll be quite happy.

"But in my mind Paul Scholes was a phenomenal player, one of the best players I have ever seen playing in midfield, and he gave so much to my club that I only can thank him for that because the prestige of this club is based on people like him."

United's victory at Everton saw them return to second position in the Premier League table ahead of Chelsea.