Gary Neville believes two Manchester United players are to blame for the midfield issues that have been clear to see in Erik ten Hag’s team throughout the season.
Monday Night Football’s coverage consisted of Jamie Carragher criticising United’s disjointed press.
The analysis was brought to Ten Hag’s attention during the week and he labelled Carragher’s take as “subjective” before his side knocked Nottingham Forest out of the FA Cup to reach the quarter-finals.
Neville spoke about it on the latest Stick to Football podcast as Carragher explained his stance, referring to a clip he used when Kobbie Mainoo was split between pressing and trying to cover the midfield space behind him.
“I used a clip from the kick-off. Nothing else going on in the game; you must know exactly what you need to do,” Carragher said.
“That’s why I used the clip, because the young lad in midfield, it looked like he didn’t really know… this was like 20 seconds into the game.”
Carragher’s comments led to Neville stating that it is the duty of the two centre-backs to pass on the right information to their midfielders so that they are not left isolated or stretched in the middle of the pitch.
Neville said: “I do blame centre-backs for that. I think if there’s a player there, Kobbie’s there and there’s a player in front, I’d expect a defender there to say ‘Kobbie, drop back one’ and I’m going in.
“I’d always say to the player I front of me to screen or go and press, you’d always give them information.”
United also lack leaders and we’re missing one with Lisandro Martinez out injured. Hopefully the Argentine recovered in time to play some matches before the end of the season because he makes a huge different to how we play out from the back.
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It’s the fault of the trainer who should demand the players do their job properly. This has to be sorted by coaches and manager.