Gary Neville has criticised some Manchester United players, saying they have "conned" under-pressure manager Michael Carrick after helping the club qualify for the Champions League last season. The team has taken just two wins from 12 games in all competitions this season, and pressure is mounting on the head coach.
Neville questions player professionalism
Speaking on his Sky Sports podcast, Neville said: "They've teased him, haven't they? They've conned him for a few months. They have, they've conned him." He added: "Honestly, he would never say this publicly because he's got class. I can say it for him though. He'll look at those players with disgust. Some of them, he'll be disgusted with some of those players."
Neville, a former United defender, claimed that some players are not living right: "A few of them aren't that professional. I live in Manchester. Some of them aren't that professional. So I've got no time for them." He elaborated: "There's a few of them that don't go to bed at the right time, don't eat the right things, don't think about Manchester United every single minute of every day, and aren't living and breathing this football club as they should be - and as professionals should. Why? Because it's gone to their heads. They are nothing, some of those players."
Pressure mounts after heavy defeats
The 4-1 thrashing in Como ramped up the pressure, but a 3-0 defeat at home to Bournemouth has taken that to an extreme. While United supporters backed Carrick, chanting his name throughout the defeat to the Cherries, they booed the players as they left the pitch behind him.
Neville also felt that Fernandes speaking out against Carrick last week was a clear sign that the players had turned on Carrick. He said: "He's not been able to get a tune out of them and they've turned on him. I know that because if Bruno has turned on him publicly, with that little statement, imagine what they're like behind the scenes. If that's your captain saying that, imagine what they're saying in the dressing room behind closed doors when no one's listening. That's horrific."
Carrick responds to speculation
When asked if he expected to now lose his job, Carrick said: "I totally understand the situation. I'm not expecting anything either way. I'm carrying on as normal. I love this place. I'll always do what I feel is going to be the best for the football club and I won't change that now, whatever decision is made."
He added: "It's a tough situation, there's no hiding from it. What it looks like and what's next I really don't know. I love what I do and I feel the responsibility. We'll have to wait and see. Of course, I take responsibility. I respect the position that I'm in, and the responsibility is mine. What else can I say really right now?"
Carrick acknowledged the club's struggles: "I've tried to do everything I can to not be in this position, of course I have. For a number of reasons, we've not been able to stop that happening to the position we're in right now. I've been at the club a long time. It hurts an awful lot to see us going through this at this moment in time. The situation is where we are and we haven't had results or performances that have been good enough."
Regarding the supporters' backing, Carrick said: "It wasn't a farewell from me. I probably didn't really expect that off the supporters, if I'm honest, but I've always felt the support and that connection with them. It will take a bit of time to digest, but I certainly appreciate their support. It's difficult for me to have a day like this at this club and feel the emotion."
He also expressed concern for his players: "I'm feeling it for my players, they're going through a tough spell. There's a lot of emotion in the changing room right now, there's a lot of the boys quite hurt, to be fair. It's not like they don't care or they want to be in this position. The ones I've spoken to, it's affecting them a lot."
