Manchester United legend, Gary Neville, has strongly criticised the team’s performance during the opening 15 minutes of the second half in their 1 1 draw with Fulham on Sunday.
Neville described the period as the worst he had seen from Manchester United after watching the Premier League encounter at Craven Cottage.
The match was goalless at half time before Fulham took the lead in the 63rd minute.
Matheus Cunha lost possession in a duel with Calvin Bassey, who collected the loose ball and advanced before forcing goalkeeper Senne Lammens into a save.
The rebound then fell towards Lisandro Martinez, who inadvertently turned the ball into his own net.
Speaking on Sky Sports, Neville expressed his frustration with the display from his former club.
“I’ve watched Man United since the age of five, and that’s the worst 15 minutes I’ve ever seen. Absolutely pathetic. I’ve never seen such a lack of effort. What must Carrick be thinking?” Neville said.
He criticised the lack of movement and intensity from the Manchester United players following the interval.
“I find the ambulatory behaviour profoundly troubling. Players should never engage in walking movements across a football pitch. It is highly irregular. It resembles a few minutes of the blue mannequins competing against the white mannequins, then the configuration reverses, an extraordinarily peculiar football contest,” he added.
Neville said neither side could make meaningful progress if they continued to play without sufficient intensity.
“Neither team will achieve meaningful progress with this demonstrated lack of intensity. Simply observe them: They are walking!” he stated.
The former England international also questioned what manager Michael Carrick would make of the players’ performance after half time.
“Were I Michael Carrick, I would harbour significant concerns regarding the message the players are communicating to him. Emerging from the half time interval with this remarkable absence of urgency is deeply troubling,” Neville said.
Manchester United eventually rescued a point from the encounter, but the performance drew criticism from the club legend.
