Neville makes feelings clear on United sacking Carrick - Source: Getty
Neville makes feelings clear on United sacking Carrick - Source: Getty
Gary Neville has warned Manchester United that sacking Michael Carrick will not fix the club’s problems, saying there are 'real issues' that run deeper than the head coach.
Speaking on NBC Sports after Sunday’s 4-4 draw with Aston Villa, Neville claimed the ownership 'don’t have a clue what to do.'
The draw left the Red Devils 18th in the Premier League with eight points from 10 games. They have registered just one league win all season and are in the middle of an eight-match winless run in the Premier League.
Manchester United trailed 2-0 inside four minutes at Old Trafford, with Alysson scoring in the opening minute and Nicolas Jackson adding a second. Bruno Fernandes converted a penalty in the 16th minute before Youri Tielemans equalized against his former club ahead of half time.
John McGinn’s penalty and Leon Goretzka’s finish made it 4-2 for Aston Villa, but Joshua Zirkzee struck in the 92nd minute and Patrick Dorgu headed in a corner from Fernandes in the 96th to rescue a point for the hosts.
For Neville, the risk lies in what follows if United sack Carrick. He explained:
"Michael Carrick did that last season - so you can paper over the cracks and get a new manager bounce.
"When the new manager comes in, everybody’s happy for a couple of months and all of a sudden, six months later, it happens again.
"You can keep changing the manager and thinking that’s going to be the answer. But this has been proven now over eight managers in 12 years, that’s not the answer."
Neville pointed to how none of the previous managerial appointments have worked at Old Trafford due to poor recruitment. He suggested the club hierarchy not being efficient in their jobs is the root of all problems at United.
"None of it has worked because if you recruit badly, if you’ve got poor performance department, poor recruitment department, you’ve not got leadership that is strong right through the spine of the football club you will fail.
"There are real issues within that football club, you’ve got people doing those jobs who have never done those jobs before in senior positions."
Manchester United face rivals Liverpool away from home when the Premier League returns after the international break.
Who could replace Carrick, and where do Manchester United stand in terms of his future?
Chief executive Omar Berrada and director of football Jason Wilcox have power over the decision on Carrick's future, with a meeting at Carrington expected during the break.
Eddie Howe, the former Newcastle United boss, and ex-Bayern Munich and Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann are the leading contenders. According to the Guardian, Howe is Wilcox’s preference, while Nagelsmann is backed by head of recruitment Christopher Vivell, raising the prospect of a power struggle at board level.
Notably, Sky Sports has reported that Manchester United would not appoint another interim. Carrick, meanwhile, has confirmed that he has no intention to walk away from the club.