GARY NEVILLE and Jamie Carragher were involved in a heated on-air row after the Manchester derby.
Defending Premier League champions Manchester City ran riot at Old Trafford, putting their hosts to the sword with a 3-0 victory.
Defeat to City raised further questions about the club’s progression under Erik ten Hag, who has, so far, failed to create any improvements in his side.
Former Liverpool defender Carragher pointed that out to Neville and cited Unai Emery and Ange Postecoglou’s successes at Aston Villa and Tottenham as evidence of that fact.
Neville accepted the point but was quick to cite the long-standing turmoil under the Glazer ownership and the prospect of Sir Jim Ratcliffe making sweeping changes once he acquires a stake in the club as reasons for the team’s shortcomings.
The Sky Sports pundit said: ” To be honest with you, I can’t disagree with you. Those managers that you’re talking about [have] come into stable environments.
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“They’ve currently got over their heads a guy all over the news [who is] gonna own 25 per cent.”
Carragher interjected and said: “Oh, Gary, Gary. No, no.”
Neville angrily replied: “Why will you not listen? Why do I have to listen to you, but you won’t listen to me?”
He continued: “Basically, you imagine you’re in a business, you’re in a football club and the news is that there is a guy that’s gonna come in and basically wipe out the whole football department.
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“Can you imagine what’s going on inside that football department at this moment in time? In and around Erik ten Hag?
“It is toxic and embedded negativity. They all think they’re all going to lose their jobs. And you can say, ‘Carry on with it, they’re professional.’
“But can you imagine what’s happening? Sir Jim Ratcliffe is going to come in with Dave Brailsford, they’re going to sweep out the football department and they’re all going to get moved away.
“That’s what’s happening and I honestly believe this toxicity that exists at this club, and has done for years by the way, it just eats alive every manager that comes and every player that comes.
“Harry Maguire was going to go to Manchester City. Mason Mount was going to go to Liverpool.
“They come here and it’s a graveyard for them. Are we going to keep blaming the kids in the class or are we going to blame the head teacher?”
Carragher refused to let his fellow pundit, or the Red Devils off the hook, asking: “So we can’t analyse anything Erik ten Hag does or any performance from Manchester United?
Why do I have to listen to you, but you won’t listen to me?
Gary Neville to Jamie Carragher
“Every time they get beat badly in a game, it goes back to the ownership.
“Of course, it’s not right, the supporters are not happy. But what you’re talking bout is a style of football.
“What he’s doing on the training pitch Monday to Friday has got nothing to do with Jim Ratcliffe coming in.
“When they’re building up from the back – and we see every top team in the league do it – what are Manchester United trying to do with the ball?
“They’re playing underdog football and they have done since he came in.”
Neville tried to interject, which prompted Carragher to say: “Gary, let me finish. You just spoke before.”
He continued: “They play counterattack and they play a lot of long balls. No other top team plays like that.
“That’s nothing to do with what’s going on above him.
“What is he doing on the training pitch? The players he’s bringing in. And what’s he asking the team to do?
“You can’t see it.”
Red Devils legend Neville acknowledged some of the blame lay at Ten Hag’s feat but refused to deviate from his initial stance.
He said: “I’m not saying he’s not culpable for the mistakes that he’s making.
“He’s got injuries to [Lisandro] Martinez who helps him play out [from the back].
“He’s got injuries to [Raphael] Varane and Varane is only just coming back. So there are issues why he can’t play out from the back.
“He’s not got Casemiro in midfield. So he’s got three players [missing] who, fundamentally, are his connection from defence [to attack].”
Carragher then said: “Casemiro is one of the worst decisions they’ve made.”
Neville continued: “What I’m saying to you is those players help him play from the back.
“I don’t like the football at all. I have no idea what the repeated patterns are that they’re trying to put in place.
“But, the bigger picture at Manchester United is we’ve seen great managers, with great reputations and great players come here and just die in front of our eyes.
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“Why is that [happening]? How do we answer that question?”
Manchester United will look to get back to winning ways on Wednesday when they welcome Newcastle to Old Trafford for their Carabao Cup last-16 tie.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
