
Former Manchester United captain Gary Neville has expressed strong opinions about the club’s current struggles, insisting that drastic changes are needed for improvement.
His frustration boiled over after a subpar performance from a key player during the FA Cup semi-final against Coventry, where Manchester United narrowly escaped a significant upset. Coventry, a Championship team, almost pulled off a shock victory against the Red Devils, who had initially taken a 3-0 lead at Wembley Stadium.
Coventry’s near-comeback was halted only by a late offside decision by VAR, which disallowed what could have been a winning goal. The game eventually went to penalties, with United scraping through, but the performance left Neville and many fans dissatisfied.
Neville’s harsh words were directed towards one individual in the squad, whom he rated a mere 1 out of 10 for their performance. He believes that the team’s issues are exacerbated under the management of Erik ten Hag.
Despite reaching the final of both the FA Cup and Carabao Cup this season, questions are being raised about ten Hag’s future at the club, as Manchester United’s inconsistency continues to frustrate fans. Neville remarked that the team appears to be a “sinking ship,” lacking direction and stability.
United’s struggles are clear in both domestic and European competitions, having failed to advance past the group stages of the Champions League and currently sitting seventh in the Premier League, far off the top-four target. For a club of Manchester United’s stature, these shortcomings are unacceptable.
Defensive issues have also been highlighted as a major problem under ten Hag’s leadership. Manchester United ranks poorly in expected goals against (xGA), with their defensive weaknesses leading to many goals conceded during injury time.
This contrasts sharply with the league leaders Arsenal, who have a far better defensive record. In addition, Neville criticized United’s offensive performance, which, despite three goals against Coventry, remains below expectations. The team ranks 12th in the league for expected goals (xG), trailing even clubs battling relegation like Everton.
Neville also questioned ten Hag’s in-game decisions during the semi-final, particularly the substitutions of Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo, which he feels led to the team losing control of the match. As pressure mounts on the manager, Neville’s call for change reflects the broader discontent among fans and could influence the club’s leadership.
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