Neville: Man Utd players downed tools and turned on Carrick

Manchester United lost 3-0 at home to Bournemouth at Old Trafford in the Premier League, England's top football division. It was their eighth game in a row without a win in all competitions, leaving the future of head coach Michael Carrick in serious doubt. Afterwards, Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville sharply criticised the players and accused them of a lack of professionalism.

Neville's assessment of the players

The players were booed off the pitch, while Carrick was applauded by the crowd. Speaking on his podcast, Neville called the match a "shocker" and said the team produced almost nothing. In his view, there was no fight against Tottenham, Como or Atletico Madrid, some against Leeds, and none against Fulham, which he described as a waste of time. He called the repeated pattern one of players switching off and downing tools.

Bruno Fernandes, who publicly criticised Carrick's tactics after the game against Como, was an unused substitute against Bournemouth. Lisandro Martinez, who spoke out against the club's hierarchy after the Atletico game, only came on as a second-half substitute.

Neville described Carrick as a man of integrity and decency, but argued that this is why he is suffering. He said the coach had not been able to get the squad working for him and that the players had turned on him. Neville also claimed some players are not living as professionals and said success had "gone to their heads".

Criticism of the club's leadership

Neville hopes Carrick will not carry all the blame. He noted the club has gone 14 years without a Premier League title and believes that without changes at the top, the wait could stretch by another five to ten years. He criticised the club's decision-making and said there must be consequences for those who choose the manager. Carrick himself said after the match that he takes responsibility for the current situation.