Gary Neville believes Manchester United supporters’ anger has given way to boredom, after another frustrating home display in the Premier League.
Ralf Rangnick’s side’s 1-1 draw at Old Trafford to Leicester City means the Reds are now on the verge of ending the current campaign outside of the Champions League places. United’s home defeat to Atletico Madrid just before the international break ended any feint hopes of silverware this season.
However, they are in serious danger of finishing outside of the top four, as they now find themselves languishing in seventh position, three points away from fourth placed Arsenal. And Neville suggested United fans' feelings have “gone past anger” due to the fact their issues have been ongoing for the last ’10 years’.
“You know, I’ve spoken in the last couple of weeks about a new manager coming in and everything thinking, ‘It’s all okay, we’ll go again,” Neville said to Sky Sports.
“We’ve been here for 10 years and it’s tough. That was a really tough watch, that today. I’m not angry, I don’t think any Manchester United fans left this ground angry tonight because we’ve gone probably past anger, we’re just flat.
We’re bored and there was nothing there today. I don’t feel sorry for the players but those players out on the pitch, I do genuinely believe players care, but they lack direction and that comes from the very top.
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“I said two weeks ago, the owners have had 10 years post- Sir Alex Ferguson to try and work this out. You know, they’re trying to run a football club by Zoom.
“And they have been trying to run a football club by Zoom before Zoom even existed because they’ve not been here, [they’ve worked] through conference calls. Ultimately, there needs to be something that culturally shifts at this football club to make it a football project.”
United will trail the top four by seven points if Arsenal overcome Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park in their first match after the international break. Neville’s evident deflation is perhaps a perfect encapsulation on the current bleakness at Old Trafford.
Rangnick is set to depart the dugout and head into the boardroom at the end of his interim spell at the club. While dialogue was reported to have been opened with Ajax manager Erik Ten Hag, United remain some way of confirming who their next manager will be.
The next boss to take over the reins at Old Trafford will be United’s fourth ever since Sir Alex Ferguson retired in 2021. Paris Saint-Germain manager Mauricio Pochettino and another unnamed boss are also believed to be linked with the United position.
But while uncertainty appears to remain at Old Trafford, Neville suggested there is a possibility that the club could name the next manager in a bid to raise morale at the club. “Look, because the interview process started, publicly, sort of seven to 10 days ago, I said you’ve got to conclude it quite quickly or else it becomes a bit of a mess,” Neville added.
“There were reports earlier in the week that Ten Hag was awaiting details as to whether he was going to be offered a contract or not. “I suspect after that performance today what we’ll see is a PR spike whereby the manager might be named. I don’t know but, for me, it wouldn’t surprise me.”
