Gary Neville hit out at recently departed chief executive Ed Woodward after Manchester United’s dismal 4-1 derby day defeat on Sunday.
Despite putting in a decent showing in the first half at the Etihad, United where thoroughly swept aside in the second half by Manchester City. Having fallen 2-1 down before the break thanks to a Kevin De Bruyne double either side of Jadon Sancho’s strike, a Riyad Mahrez brace saw the hosts ease to victory.
In truth, it could have been more for City, who simply dominated the second half as United failed to lay a glove on them. One particularly damning stat was flashed up by Sky Sports during the second half, showing the hosts had enjoyed 92 per cent of possession for the previous 15 minutes of the game.
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And, reacting to United’s defeat early on Monday morning, former captain Neville shared a screenshot of the stat with a withering putdown of the club’s former CEO. Woodward officially left his role with the club on February 1, with Richard Arnold taking over in the role.
“Still can’t get my head around that!” Neville wrote. “However City aren’t just better on the pitch.
“A new dawn for United with Richard Arnold as CEO and a new manager incoming but yesterday was a fitting memorial to the “Ed Woodward/Glazer“ last 10 years of mismanagement.”
Neville was also particularly critical of United’s players at the time the stat was shown, saying during his commentary: “Ninety-two per cent possession for City? They (United) have given up. I get the fact that it's hard, they are playing against a top team but they are walking around the pitch. It's nowhere near good enough.
“I don't think the scoreline it's the problem, it's the response to going 3-1 down that's been the biggest problem for me. They have absolutely thrown the towel in.”
The result, but perhaps more importantly the manner of the defeat, showed just big a job new CEO Arnold is facing after taking over from Woodward. The recently departed chief was heavily criticised during his tenure for his handling of matters at Old Trafford, with much of United’s issues being pinned on him as well as the club’s owners.
Arnold now faces a crucial summer ahead as United enter a new era, with a new permanent manager set to be appointed. Mauricio Pochettino and Erik ten Hag remain the frontrunners, with the club looking to get a deal done before the end of the season.
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