Neville: “United have got it wrong”

Gary Neville has attacked the club over their handling of David Moyes’ sacking, as he claimed that the way the United’s hierarchy managed the situation portrayed the club in the wrong way.

Moyes was handed his P45 this morning, as United finally run out of patience with the man to whom they had given a six-year contract 10 months ago and who has overseen one of the worst season United have endure in the last three decades. Neville, however, insisted that while Moyes didn’t help himself, the players and the club should take a long, hard look at themselves.

“The last 15, 16 hours or however long it’s been, I don’t like it, it’s not the way in which the club should portray itself,” Neville told Sky Sports News.

“But it’s the modern world, it’s how things seem to be dealt with now, but I’m a traditionalist and I think it could have been dealt with a whole lot better. I believe in managers being given time, I think they should be allowed to complete their work. The idea of giving people three- and four- and six-year contracts and then getting rid of them after 10 months is something that’s foreign to me.

“However, there’s no disguising that the football this season has been poor, the results have been poor. As a fan I’ve not enjoyed watching it – I’m sure David Moyes himself hasn’t enjoyed watching it. And I can’t think many Manchester United fans will have enjoyed watching it either.

“The performances have sort of got worse and worse. There was a little bit of a pick-up before Christmas when you thought there might be a bit of a run but in the last month or two the performances have sort of deteriorated really,” said the former United captain.

“The players have to take massive responsibility. I never once during my 17/18-year career at United turned around after a game and thought: ‘You lost us that game, boss’.

“It’s always the players. Players have to take responsibility, accountability in football. Those players there are not as bad as they have been showing, I’ve played with a lot of those players,” added Neville.

“They’ve got great care for United, they love the club – the ones that I know – they’re desperate to do well for the club and they have completely lost confidence. These are players who were champions nine months ago and the decline has been surprising to say the least.”