Former midfielder David Beckham believes Manchester United's players have done "what they could do best" as the conclusion of a wretched campaign nears.
United's hopes of securing Champions League football for next season officially drew to a close on Saturday evening following a thumping 4-0 defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion at the Amex Stadium. Moises Caicedo, Marc Cucurella, Pascal Gross and Leandro Trossard all got their names on the scoresheet to condemn United to a fifth successive away defeat.
The defeat on the south coast, which has left United sixth in the Premier League table with just one game left to play, sparked yet more criticism of the current squad, who have underperformed and let the club down on countless occasions this season. A huge rebuild is set to take place under new manager Erik ten Hag over the coming months and it cannot come quickly enough.
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However, despite United's defeat to Brighton ensuring that they hit a new low, despite this season having been littered with forgettable afternoons and evenings, former England captain Beckham refused to be too critical of his old club in a rare TV interview. Speaking ahead of the Miami Formula One Grand Prix, the former Reds star admitted that he felt United's players have tried their best this term.
"I think there are changes that needed to be made and changes that are happening, and we have seen that," Beckham told Sky Sports. "It is a tough end to the season, but it is the end of the season and I am sure the fans are thankful of that because it has been a tough one.
"It has been full of ups and downs and the players have done what they could do best, and so has the manager as well. But you still turn up at the stadium and I turned up at the stadium a few months back and every seat was filled.
"The fans still believe, the fans still support and the fans will always turn up for the team because it is what the United fans do. There are not many other teams that have gone through what they have gone through in the last few years and are still filling out their stadium.
"It says a lot about the fans, says a lot about they believe in and there will be changes."
Despite United's struggles this season, Cristiano Ronaldo, who returned to the club last summer, has been a shining light. He has netted 24 goals in all competitions and Ten Hag, according to reports, wants to include within his plans next season.
Beckham added: "Cristiano is one of the best players over the last 15 years with Leo [Lionel Messi]. To hopefully see him stay on at United is important for the fans.
"It is important to him and we all know how much Man United means to him. He is still doing what he does best; scoring goals and creating. To be doing what he is doing at his age is really incredible, so hopefully it continues and he stays for another year or two."
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