Carrick must stop defending Man Utd players - Neville

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FT Desk

Gary Neville believes that Manchester United manager Michael Carrick must stop defending the lacklustre performances of his players.

The Red Devils went three games without a win on Sunday when they had to rely on a late deflected equaliser from Matheus Cunha to earn a point in a 1-1 draw away at Fulham.

Following the break, United were terrible for a period and Neville actually said it was the worst he had ever seen a Man Utd team play in all his years supporting the club.

"I've watched Man United since the age of five and that's the worst 15 minutes I've ever seen," Neville said on commentary.

"Absolutely pathetic. I've never seen such a lack of effort. What must [Michael] Carrick be thinking?"

Passes went wayward, there was little intensity and players seemed content with just walking about the pitch.

In the early stages of this season, United have received criticism for their physical output on the pitch and the lack of distance the players cover during matches.

Addressing those criticisms, Carrick said post-match: "The way we finished the game, actually, it didn't look like that. We finished the game really strong actually, and kept pushing. I don't think that's an issue, no,."

However, Neville believes that Carrick must stop coming up with excuses for players not running enough.

"I was purely referring to the fact that they walked around the pitch. I have never seen Manchester United walk as much as that," the former United star said.

"Michael has got to stop defending them. I get why he's defending them, he is loyal and wants his players to work for him. There is a long way left in the season.

"I called them mannequins. I have never seen a Manchester United team, for 15 minutes, walk around as much as that. No alerts, not on your toes, you should always be on your toes, there was no shifting up two or three yards. Just walking when Fulham were in possession.

"There needs to be a rebalance. I wish he could play the attacking players but they are going to kill him defensively."

Neville added: "Not running is the only thing that I will call a disgrace."

The Red Devils have won just one of their opening five Premier League matches and, as we head into a three-week international break, they are in the bottom half of the table in 12th.