BangerboyPaul Scholes has sparked a fresh debate among football fans by hailing Leeds United’s Gabriel Gudmundsson as “one of the best in his position” following his masterclass in the FA Cup. Speaking after Leeds dismantled Norwich City 3-0 on March 8, 2026, the Manchester United legend was unusually effusive in his praise for the Swedish wing-back, whose performance he labeled “unmatched” at Elland Road.
Gudmundsson was the undisputed architect of the victory, providing a sublime cross for Sean Longstaff’s opener before ghosting into the box to score a clinical half-volley himself. Scholes, who is often a harsh critic of modern defensive players, admitted he was captivated by the Swede’s tactical intelligence and technical execution.
”You look at the way he dominates that entire left flank; it’s a dying art,” Scholes remarked on the TNT Sports post-match panel. “He isn’t just a runner. He understands when to squeeze the space and when to deliver. Right now, on that form, he’s as good as anyone in Europe in that role. He was the smartest player on the pitch by a mile.”
The performance was statistically dominant, with Gudmundsson topping the charts for chances created, successful tackles, and ball recoveries. His contribution helped end a difficult spell for Daniel Farke’s side, who have struggled for consistency in the Premier League but looked reborn in their pursuit of a first FA Cup quarter-final in over two decades.
Scholes’ high praise carries significant weight, especially as he recently made headlines for his “brutal” critique of Michael Carrick’s Manchester United. By contrast, his endorsement of Gudmundsson suggests that the Swedish international is fast becoming one of the most coveted assets in English football. While Joel Piroe added a late third to polish the scoreline, Scholes insisted the narrative belonged to the left-back: “People talk about flashy attackers, but Gudmundsson gave a clinic in how to control a football match from the defensive line.”
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