Gary Neville Criticizes Manchester United Players' Professionalism

Gary Neville has accused Manchester United's players of "conning" Michael Carrick and branded them "unprofessional" in an eviscerating attack. The criticism followed United's abject 3-0 defeat by Bournemouth at Old Trafford, which came on the heels of a dismal 4-1 loss in Como, and is likely to signal the end of Carrick's managerial tenure.

Despite the latest miserable loss, Carrick, 45, received a warm reaction from the Stretford End, but the home supporters then turned on the squad, booing them off the pitch. Neville seemed to align with the fans' sentiment, declaring he has "no time for the players," who he claimed "don’t eat the right things" or "go to bed at the right time."

"They've teased him, haven't they? They've conned him for a few months. They have, they've conned him," Neville stated on his Sky Sports podcast. "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 elaborated, saying: "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. 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."

Carrick made the controversial decision to leave Bruno Fernandes on the substitutes bench after the club captain’s scathing remarks about team tactics earlier in the week. This represented the first time Fernandes has been benched for non-fitness reasons since Carrick also pulled him from the lineup against Villarreal in November 2021.

Jamie Carragher argued that Carrick "deliberately tried to embarrass" Fernandes by not playing him. For Neville, the fact that Fernandes publicly criticized Carrick suggests the players have turned against their manager. "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," Neville commented.

Manchester United currently sits 16th in the Premier League, and some bookmakers have suspended bets on Carrick being dismissed. Eddie Howe is considered the favorite to take over if the club decides to make a change, just months after Carrick was made permanent manager following his interim stint.

Following the loss to Bournemouth, Carrick expressed gratitude for the support from fans, but clarified that his gesture should not be interpreted as a farewell. Regarding his future, Carrick stated, "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."

Despite the turmoil, Carrick acknowledged, "It's a tough situation, there's no hiding from it. What it looks like and what's next I really don't know."