Gary Neville speaks out again, calling out some Manchester United players for being ‘unprofessional.’
After Manchester United’s tough loss to Bournemouth, which seems to be the final straw for Michael Carrick as manager, Gary Neville has stepped up to defend him and put the blame on the players instead.
Carrick has been facing a lot of criticism after the 0-3 defeat, with some, like Jamie Carragher, not only calling for his sacking but even suggesting Carrick himself wants to leave. Fans are split on whether to replace him, worried about adding his name to a long list of managers who haven’t worked out since Sir Alex Ferguson left, costing the club around £100 million.
Some fans online are already calling for Carrick to go and have their favorite replacements in mind. At the stadium, after the game, fans sang Carrick’s name but also booed the players as he left the field. Gary Neville echoed this feeling.
On his podcast, Neville said the poor performance was another example of the players not giving their best effort. But he also defended Carrick, saying the manager is struggling because the players have stopped trying, even though Carrick demands top-quality football.
“Michael Carrick is a brilliant man,” Neville said. “He’s honest, professional, and expects a lot — things the players in that dressing room just aren’t showing. He’s suffering because he can’t get them to perform. It’s too much for him right now.”
Neville also pointed out that if even Bruno Fernandes, the team captain, is publicly unhappy, you can imagine how things are behind the scenes. “That’s really bad,” he said.
He went on to warn that the club shouldn’t make quick, bad decisions, like firing Carrick. “It’s been 14 years without a Premier League title. It could be another five or ten because other clubs are better prepared. Manchester United is making poor choices, and it’s hurting the club. It’s not just about the manager; there needs to be responsibility higher up, too.”
Neville was also very critical of the players during the match, blaming defensive mistakes and a lack of drive and creativity up front. Off-air, he was even stronger, saying some players aren’t professional and that playing for United has gone to their heads.
“I live in Manchester and I know some of them aren’t taking this seriously,” he said. “They don’t have the right habits — not going to bed early, not eating right, not putting the club first every day. They let the fame get to them. Some of those players are nothing.”