Gary Neville lambasts Manchester United’s display against Fulham as an ‘absolute disgrace’

Gary Neville criticised Manchester United ’s performance during their 1-1 draw with Fulham calling it and ‘absolute disgrace’ Matheus Cunha rescued a point for the Red Devils with a deflected strike in the 89th minute after a Lisandro Martinez own goal had sent the Cottagers into the lead. United took 29 shots throughout the game but were unable to capitalise in the final third and the scrutiny will now increase on manager Michael Carrick after a week of poor performances has seen them lose to Manchester City and Brighton (in the league cup) and now draw with Fulham who began the match bottom of the Premier League table. The display at Craven Cottage was called out by Neville on Sky Sports commentary as he said the team played the “worst 15 minutes of football” he can remember seeing since watching the team from the age of five. After the game, Neville explained his reasoning adding: “I was purely referring to the fact that they walked around the pitch. I’ve never seen a Manchester United team walk, out of possession, as much as that. “Michael [Carrick] said he was happy with the team’s energy, Michael’s got to stop defending them. I get why he’s defending them, he’s loyal and wants his players to work for him. Both teams were the same, I called them mannequins. I’ve never seen a Manchester United team, for 15 minutes, walk around out of possession as much as that. No alertness, no liveliness, no sort of on your toes. Just walking when Fulham were in possession.” Neville went further and showcased what needs to change in United’s performances by calling out the attacking players who were not excelling in their defensive duties. Gary Neville called out Manchester United's performance against Fulham (PA) “There needs to be a rebalance,” Neville continued, “I wish he [Carrick] could play those attacking players but they’re going to kill him defensively. Mbeumo and Rashford are too wide and too high, they don’t narrow and get back in. You’ve then got Tielemans and Mainoo in midfield who are a little bit one-paced and Bruno [Fernandes] at times floats around and Cunha floats around a little bit. “These five or six players are all better with the ball than without the ball and it would be great to see them score loads of goals, concede one or two and go on to win games but there’s going to have to be a reset from the point of view of defensive structure. “There are far too many of them walking on the pitch and thinking they don’t have to do the ugly part of the game. Very rarely do I say that a team doesn’t work hard or is lacking in effort because that’s the ultimate criticism you can give a group of players. “That first 15 minutes of the second half, well for 60 minutes, Manchester United were an absolute disgrace. Nowhere near good enough without the ball. Nowhere near good enough.”