GARY NEVILLE and Micah Richards clashed in a fiery row live on air over the state of Manchester United.
They also had dividing opinions over Antonio Conte’s credentials and whether he would be the right man at Old Trafford.
United legend Neville and City hero Richards were at the Etihad on Sunday to watch Pep Guardiola’s side crush Ralf Rangnick’s 4-1.
And they were joined in the Sky Sports studio by Roy Keane and Jamie Redknapp for the heavyweight battle.
But there was more of a contest around the table afterwards than there was on the pitch.
Passionate Richards gesticulated wildly as he made his feelings clear while Neville had his head in his hands and told his colleague to ‘stop ranting’.
The five-minute debate was surrounding Rangnick, his appointment as United interim manager and what other options United have finding Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s permanent successor.
Neville said: “I can absolutely, categorically tell you Ralf Rangnick will not be the manager next season.
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“Not because he’s doing a bad job – he’s just not being the manager next season.”
Richards replied: “So why give him the manager’s job in the first place?”
Neville cut in: “Micah, Micah…”
But the ex-City defender continued: “It’s about the here and now – are you just getting rid of this season then? Is that what you’re doing?”
Neville added: “You’re ranting emotionally without really making sense. Chelsea have appointed interim managers until the end of the season, just to get them to the end of the season.”
As the decibels rose, Richards raged: “Just because you’re connected to Man United doesn’t mean my opinion’s irrelevant.
“Rangnick’s best work is done behind the scenes.
“You brought him in as interim, he’s not done great, he’s losing all credibility, he’s going upstairs – you think a new manager’s going to listen to him?”
Neville fired back: “Stop ranting, what should they have done?”
Do you want to be mediocre for the next ten years? Is that what you want?
Micah Richards
Then Richards suggested the now Tottenham boss: “Gone for Conte! Conte was available when he went to Spurs!
“He was the best available manager at the time. And because he doesn’t fit the ‘Man United way’?
“The Man United way is you don’t win any trophies! Conte’s done it!”
Neville insisted United were not keen on Conte, but Richards was having none of it.
He added: “Why would you not want Conte? You don’t want winners now? Is that where Man United are? You don’t want winners anymore?”
Neville replied: “I agree with them not wanting him. Conte’s not a manager for Man United.
“He comes in for one or two years, does a great job, no problem…”
Richards cut in to ask: “Do you want to be mediocre for the next ten years? Is that what you want?”
Neville finished up by saying: “They wanted to appoint [Mauricio’ Pochettino or [Erik] Ten Hag on a long-term project and they needed someone to get them until the end of the season.
“Manchester United need a longer-term approach to a manager.”
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Rangnick suggested he was still keen to take the gig permanently after his temporary spell at the end of the season.
But after the humiliating defeat to their neighbours, with Kevin De Bruyne and Riyad Mahrez scoring twice each, few Red Devils supporters would want him in the dugout next season.
Pochettino and Ten Hag are the current favourites to take over.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
