Former Chelsea midfielder Gus Poyet has called on people to stop criticising Manchester United's most recent managers and to start pointing the blame at the players for the club's current decline.
United's hopes of finishing inside the top-four this season suffered another setback after losing the Manchester derby 4-1 to City at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday. The Reds are now fifth in the table, one point behind Arsenal, who have three games in hand.
The defeat to City was another reminder of just how far United are behind their rivals and how quickly they need the summer to arrive to carry out the rebuilding job that needs to take place. As well as changes being needed in the squad, the club also needs to appoint Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's permanent replacement.
READ MORE: Erik ten Hag comments prove he would give Manchester United what they are lacking
But although installing a new permanent is expected to help United's most recent woes, the players also need to take their share of the blame for the club's decline. And former Chelsea star Poyet believes the time has come for people to stop pointing the finger at United's managers, outlining how many different avenues they have explored since Sir Alex Ferguson retired back in 2013.
"For me, the problem at Manchester United is very simple to identify," said Poyet, speaking exclusively to Ladbrokes at the launch of its '5-A-Side bet on Chelsea v Newcastle'. "Clubs will change their manager once or twice, and you might put it down to them - but how many have tried since Sir Alex Ferguson?
"They are on their fifth permanent manager now... is it still the manager that's the problem? Because people only ever talk about the Man United manager.
"Right now, people are now starting to look at things a lot deeper - but a month ago it was Ralf Rangnick who was apparently the problem. Stop talking about the manager; stop blaming them.
"They've tried every different style, character, nationality, and they're still not performing. On paper, it's an unbelievable team full of power, size and technique. But it's not working.
"When that kind of thing happens, the problem - for me - is the core of the team. The players who are the base of the team; the ones who they need to centre everything around; they're the problem. It's clear to me, it's not a question of managers.
"It's common sense; when somebody gets sacked and a new guy comes in and turns things around, you can maybe look and say there was a clear issue there with the previous manager. When you're five managers into a project and things still haven't changed, don't tell me it's the manager's fault.
"They destroyed Jose Mourinho, but he won a couple of trophies with them. And he was supposed to be the worst thing for United?
"Maybe they need to rethink those claims. He said things, if you remember, about certain players... he said some very strong things about them - but he won trophies. The rest haven't been able to do that."
READ MORE: Man United won't be fixed by Mauricio Pochettino or Erik ten Hag - and Gary Neville has shown why
READ MORE: Jadon Sancho reveals his biggest strengths and reflects on first Manchester United season
At this moment in time, Paris Saint-Germain chief Mauricio Pochettino and Ajax boss Erik ten Hag are the frontrunners to take over at Old Trafford. But regardless of who lands the job, Poyet insists United approach matters differently, not least their communication with the supporters.
He continued: "The club needs to think a little deeper and take a different approach and communicate better with the fans. Whoever comes in next, the board has to explain to its supporters what their intentions are.
"Send a message to the fans and create something thinking about the next, say three seasons. Pick a coach, and let him do his job.
"Let him finish sixth in his first season if he has to, then let him take a few players out and slowly build his own team. The problem is that people are living with this image of Manchester United from the Sir Alex Ferguson days; that they must win.
"But they are far, far away from that. We're talking there about a team from almost ten years ago."
Sign up to our United newsletter so you never miss an update from Old Trafford this season.
Catch up on all the latest United headlines in our United section.
