Gary Neville launched a scathing attack on Manchester United‘s players following their lacklustre display in Thursday’s 1-1 stalemate with West Ham, singling out club captain Bruno Fernandes as the sole player worthy of praise. The United legend was left fuming by the result and struggled to comprehend the team’s showing. Ruben Amorim’s men had taken the lead in the second period at Old Trafford through Diogo Dalot’s strike.
But a late equaliser from West Ham’s Soungoutou Magassa ensured the spoils were shared in what represented a squandered chance for the Red Devils. United have enjoyed a relatively kind fixture list in recent weeks, which continues this weekend with a journey to face a faltering Wolves outfit. Yet, having collected just four points from a potential nine, Neville is lamenting the side’s inability to exploit their rivals’ struggles and climb the table.
In a particularly damning assessment of United’s performance against the Hammers, the former defender and current pundit criticised the lack of intensity and determination in their pursuit of a second goal. He identified Fernandes as the sole player who demonstrated genuine commitment and any desire to push forward, take chances and hunt for the crucial winner.
“This was a massive opportunity,” he stated on the Gary Neville podcast. “You saw the games they had lined up [against Everton, Palace and West Ham] and they won the most difficult game [vs Palace].
“But unfortunately, they’re not taking their chances to get up there and be up there. And I don’t get it. I don’t get the lack of urgency and lack of intensity.
“I don’t get the slow play and the lack of risk in the game. I suspect Amorim isn’t going into the changing room saying ‘Guys, play slowly tonight.’ He’s going in there and saying to move the ball quickly and to play with real threat and vigour.
“But it doesn’t transpire out on the pitch. I don’t see the appetite to go and throw your whole life at the game and everything you’ve got. Bruno [Fernandes] does look a little bit like he does that, you could see him at the end there trying to get everywhere.
“I actually see that little bit of panic in him that we can’t draw this game. I don’t see it in enough of the others. I don’t see. I still see them being quite [passive] letting the game drift or walking to a throw-in.”
Following Thursday’s result, Amorim’s side currently sit eighth in the Premier League table. They are level on points with Liverpool and Brighton, and just two points adrift of the top four as it stands.
However, had they secured victory against the Hammers, they would have climbed to fifth place, trailing Chelsea only on goal difference. With the table so congested from second place downwards, every point will prove vital in the battle for Champions League qualification this season.