Gary Neville has echoed a previous warning from Roy Keane by accusing Manchester United ’s players of looking after themselves rather than playing as a team.
United have been heavily criticised over the past week following consecutive 1-1 draws against Burnley and Southampton in the Premier League.
Ralf Rangnick’s side took the lead in both fixtures before wilting after the break to concede and drop four valuable points in the race for the top four.
They are currently fifth, but can leapfrog West Ham into fourth place with victory against Brighton in their game in hand at Old Trafford tonight.
United fans will expect an improved performance after three matches without a win and with what Neville has termed the ongoing “soap opera” raging off the pitch at the club.
“It now gets to a point where you don't feel it's down to the manager anymore,” the former United defender told Sky Sports .
“Ole [Gunnar Solskjaer] was getting a lot of criticism at the start of the season and loses his job and it's now being suggested that Ralf Rangnick isn't good enough because he's a sporting director and he's not a coach .
“There's a confidence issue, but there's also an issue of excuse mentality and of looking after themselves and not looking at the bigger picture which is creating a brilliant team and trying to get back up that league.”
Neville pointed to comments by Southampton manager Ralph Hasenhuttl, who openly suggested United were poor in their work-rate off the ball after his side took a point on Saturday.
“It is not a big secret that when they lose the ball that the reverse gears are not always the best from everybody,” Hasenhuttl said.
Neville believes that is a fair comment from the Austrian, adding: “I look at them on the pitch and there's definitely a number of them who are lacking in confidence.
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“There's also a few of them who are not putting a shift in. The hard yards. That I can't forgive because as a United fan all that you can ask is that they give their all on the pitch.
“At United, it looks lethargic and they don't look like they have the quality to chase games. Something has got to change there very quickly.”
Neville’s scathing comments echo some from former United captain Keane, who laid into the players back in November 2020 , when Solskjaer was under pressure due to poor performances.
“I scratch my head at players who don't have enthusiasm for a game of football,” he said after a 1-0 defeat by Arsenal.
“Sometimes you say 'there's no reason to panic'. But the results and performances suggest you should be panicking.
"I judge the players by their actions and I just don’t see it. I never looked at a manager expecting to motivate me, that comes from within.
"Ole will lose his job working with these players, as night follows day – that's what is going to happen.”
