Steven Gerrard has named a string of Manchester United players he believes are not good enough to play for the club, including a former teammate of his. The Red Devils are in turmoil after a 3-0 defeat to Bournemouth at Old Trafford on Sunday left them 16th in the Premier League table.
Manager Michael Carrick remains in charge for now, but with just one win in eight top flight matches and one in three Champions League outings this season, he is not expected to be there for long. The likes of Eddie Howe and Julian Nagelsmann are being touted as possible replacements for Carrick if he is dismissed, but Gerrard feels the players are more of an issue than the manager.
Gerrard's verdict on the squad
The Liverpool legend rates the likes of Bruno Fernandes and Bryan Mbeumo, while he sees potential in Carlos Baleba, but he has condemned more Manchester United players as simply not good enough.
'Manchester United, if you go through the squad, they've got some good players,' Gerrard said on Overlap Daily. 'Bruno Fernandes is the best player. I look at him and when I watch him and when he's at it, even though I'm a Liverpool fan, he's a pleasure to watch. He's a terrific footballer talent-wise.'
'But if you go through the squad, the back four. Harry Maguire's had a really good career, Luke Shaw, I played with Luke, he was top in his day. They're not Manchester United players anymore. They should have been moved on quicker.'
Criticism of recruitment and individual players
Gerrard also criticised Lisandro Martinez, saying he was 'only interested in the World Cup' last year and questioning his commitment. He added: 'You look at the midfield, they signed a player from Chelsea, £50 million, [Andrey] Santos, not a Manchester United player.'
'Then it goes to recruitment higher up. Why are you signing players that are not good enough to play for Manchester United? These [are] the only players you can attract now, but he's not a Manchester United player.'
On Carlos Baleba, signed for £70 million, Gerrard said: 'He's got potential. He's not ready to help Manchester United compete at the top of the league now.' He also described Amad Diallo as 'hot and cold', saying he 'hasn't shown nothing this season.'
Questions over Cunha and Neville's comments
With Marcus Rashford and Patrick Dorgu injured on Sunday, Matheus Cunha was on the bench and Mason Mount started on the left wing against Bournemouth. Gerrard pointed the finger at Cunha, who he does rate, but assumes must have done something to see him left out of an under-performing team.
'Nothing coming from the left side, nothing at all,' he said. 'You look at the forwards, [Bryan] Mbeumo, good player. Probably one of the shining lights of this season. Cunha's dropped. So what's he doing? Is he not training right? Is he one of the toxic players? They've just signed him recently. Why is a Brazil international not starting? So, he's not doing something right. He's part of the problem as well.'
Manchester United hero Gary Neville also hit out at players, although did not name names when he questioned the professionalism of some squad members. 'There's a few of them who aren't that professional. There's a couple of them…I live in Manchester, they're not that professional, some of them. So I've got no time for them,' Neville told Sky Sports.
