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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Josh O'Brien

Gary Neville and Micah Richards in remarkable row over Man Utd and Antonio Conte

Gary Neville and Micah Richards were embroiled in a heated exchange in the aftermath of Manchester United's humiliating defeat by local rivals Manchester City.

Pep Guardiola's side put four past United at the Etihad with Jadon Sancho's equaliser failing to spark the momentum the away faithful were hoping for.

A brace each from Kevin De Bruyne and Riyad Mahrez further damaged United's hopes of Champions League qualification for next season.

It placed more question marks over the decision-making by the Old Trafford hierarchy when it comes to their next managerial appointment... as well as the decision to appoint Ralf Rangnick on an interim basis when Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was dismissed.

Richards questioned why they had opted for Rangnick, who he argues has since damaged his reputation by taking the United job.

HAVE YOUR SAY! Who was in the wrong - Richards or Neville? Comment below

Micah Richards and Gary Neville went at it over the United's managerial situation. (Sky Sports)

"So are you just getting rid of this season then are you?", the former Man City defender asked Neville, implying Rangnick was never up to the task long before he was appointed.

Neville hit back: "You are ranting emotionally without making any sort of sense."

"Chelsea have appointed interim managers before just to get them through the season," but the United legend was cut off by Richards before he could finish his point.

"Just because you are connected to United doesn't mean that my opinion is irrelevant, Rangnick's best work is done behind the scenes.

"You've brought him as an interim and he's not done great," Richards continued, before Neville again demanded he "stop ranting".

Neville pressed Richards for an answer when he asked who United should have appointed instead of Rangnick.

However, once Richards suggested current Spurs boss Antonio Conte, Neville was left with his head in his hands.

"He was available before he went to Spurs, he was the best available manager at the time and because he doesn't fit 'the United way' - the 'United way'? What's that, you don't win trophies anymore?" Richards declared.

"Conte's a winner, he's come from Inter Milan why would you not want him? Do you not want winners anymore?"

Antonio Conte was available shortly before United sacked Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in November (Getty Images)

Neville stood firm in his stance that he did not want Conte in the Old Trafford hot-seat.

"Conte's not a manager for United.

"He comes in for one or two years, he does a great job but we've been there with Jose Mourinho, they want to appoint either Mauricio Pochettino or [Erik] Ten-Hag on a long-term project and they needed someone to get them to the end of the season."

Speculation has been rife for months over who United will eventually appoint as Rangnick's permanent successor, with Pochettino reportedly the frontrunner and Ajax chief Ten Hag much admired.

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