Manchester United staff reportedly agree with a club legend's brutal criticism of director of football Jason Wilcox, following Michael Carrick's sacking on Thursday. The manager paid the price for United's nightmare start to the season, but Wilcox and other club higher-ups have also faced criticism for their role in recruitment, leaving Carrick with what some see as an under-equipped squad.
Legend's Public Criticism
According to The Times, one unnamed club legend publicly criticised Wilcox after coming into contact with him at a match at Old Trafford. The individual, said to have played more than 300 times for United, reportedly shook Wilcox's hand before waiting for the 55-year-old to get out of earshot and turning to guests to claim he "Hasn't got a clue".
The same publication suggests this view is shared by several staff members at United, with others reportedly using the word "clueless" to describe the former Blackburn and England winger, who has held his current role since 2024.
Transfer Record Under Scrutiny
Wilcox has been in place for three summer transfer windows which have brought mixed results. There have been some success stories, including the arrival of Bryan Mbeumo and the cut-price deal for promising defender Ayden Heaven, though there have also been expensive missteps.
The one summer window with Carrick at the helm saw United spend £150m on a new-look midfield. Questions remain when it comes to squad balance, especially at left-back and up front. The Times also cited a source describing the summer recruitment process as a mess.
Carrick's Uphill Battle
The loss of Casemiro and the additional strain of midweek Champions League responsibilities, with only a handful of additions to the squad, was seen to have left Carrick with an uphill battle just to match last season's performance. Carrick leaves Old Trafford with United in the relegation zone.
While the identity of the club legend who criticised Wilcox hasn't been made public, former captain Gary Neville pulled no punches when speaking to Sky Sports about the fallout. "In the last 24-48 hours it's been spectacularly bad to be in Monaco as an executive and an owner whilst your manager, who's a club legend, is taking training on the pitch and simultaneously approaching the US Soccer Federation to approach Mauricio Pochettino," Neville said, calling the situation "quite simply disgusting".
Neville added: "The optics of being in Monaco whilst the team, the staff, the people who are running the club on a day-to-day basis are in Manchester, it's just not good, and it reflects badly on the leadership. I don't think anybody comes out of this well at all."
Mauricio Pochettino is now expected to take charge in earnest on November 19, giving him several days with the squad before the Premier League match away to Liverpool on November 22. The United States boss has been tipped to take charge of a pair of internationals against Haiti this week before heading to England.
