‘I never expected…’: Eight-time PL winner pulls no punches over ‘poor’ Man Utd duo after derby win

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·16 de diciembre de 2024

‘I never expected…’: Eight-time PL winner pulls no punches over ‘poor’ Man Utd duo after derby win

Despite serving the club for the entirety of his playing career and being a boyhood Red, you’d struggle to find a pundit more critical of Manchester United than Gary Neville.

The ex-skipper was up to his usual tricks last night when on co-commentary alongside Peter Drury for the Manchester derby.

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His reaction to the Rasmus Hojlund incident, which saw VAR called in to review a potential headbutt from the Dane until further inspection showed it was just Kyle Walker theatrically – and embarrassingly – diving to the floor, was bizarre to begin with. Before viewers were granted a closer look, Neville would’ve had you believe Hojlund was seconds away from being shown a red card.

An emphatic second-half display, albeit in the very dying embers, led to United completing an unexpected turnaround in only 115 seconds. Initially through Bruno Fernandes’ equalising penalty and then through Amad Diallo’s scintillating finish and heroics on the brink of injury time. It sent the away end into complete bedlam, and we can only imagine how those in pubs and at home reacted.

Not Neville, though! He was as sceptical as ever after United claimed all three points to their cross-city rivals on their home soil.

Gary Neville must be terrified at the idea of Man Utd improving. The bloke has made his whole personality and career just about slagging off the club he supposedly loves.
– domingo, 15 de diciembre de 2024

Neville weighs in on shock Amorim derby decision

(Photo by Richard Pelham/Getty Images)

He also addressed the matter of Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho’s surprising omissions from the matchday squad. Ruben Amorim did well to keep tight-lipped on the matter, though Neville believes the attackers’ recent struggles have become too ‘poor’ to ignore.

“They’ve both been poor on the pitch,” he said of the forwards, as per Sky Sports.

“That’s a fact. And Amorim said the selection issue was down to performance and performance and engagement with teammates. That means if they’ve not been good in the group. That’s why they weren’t here. What he’s done is made a bold call. What he has to do is shake this club to its core.

“I’m a United fan tonight, and I’ve got a smile on my face because something’s happened that I never expected. I had no faith or trust in these players to come here today and win, even as bad as City are.

“But Amorim has to make even more bold decisions because there are a lot of players in that squad who are not good enough to get Amorim where he wants to be and keep him in a job.”