PAUL SCHOLES WAS COMPLETELY STUNNED WITH SUNDERLAND STAR CLASSICAL PERFORMANCE VS OXFORD, SHEER BRILLIANCE

Manchester United icon Paul Scholes was reportedly left “completely stunned” by a masterful individual performance during Sunderland’s clinical FA Cup victory over Oxford United at the Kassam Stadium. The legendary midfielder, known for his demanding standards and elite technical eye, took to social media and broadcast analysis to hail the “classical brilliance” of Sunderland’s Habib Diarra, whose influence on the match Scholes described as a throwback to the game’s greatest playmakers.
Sunderland, currently enjoying a resurgence under Regis Le Bris, dismantled a stubborn Oxford side with a level of composure that clearly caught Scholes’ attention. Diarra, the 22-year-old French sensation, was the undisputed architect of the victory, capping off a dominant display by converting a crucial penalty to send the Black Cats into the FA Cup fifth round. Scholes was particularly taken by Diarra’s spatial awareness and weight of pass, noting that the youngster played with a level of “sheer brilliance” rarely seen outside the European elite.
”You don’t often see a performance that controlled and that elegant in a cup tie,” Scholes remarked during a post-match breakdown. He highlighted how Diarra dictated the tempo of the game, effortlessly bypassing Oxford’s press and finding pockets of space that left the home defense chasing shadows. Scholes went as far as to label the performance “classical,” comparing Diarra’s poise to the great midfield maestros who once dominated the Premier League.
The viral praise from a figure as reserved as Scholes has ignited a frenzy among the Sunderland faithful, many of whom believe they are witnessing the rise of a generational talent. As the clip of Scholes’ stunned reaction circulates across social media, the narrative around Sunderland has shifted from mere cup contenders to a team possessing genuine top-tier technical quality. With Scholes now firmly in his corner, the pressure will be on Diarra to maintain this “sheer brilliance” as Sunderland continues their march toward the later stages of the competition, proving that his masterclass against Oxford was no fluke but a sign of things to come.