Neville has blasted the players who he says are responsible for the leaks.
Gary Neville says he knows which Manchester United players are responsible for leaking information to the media in recent weeks.
Speaking on his podcast from St James’ Park on Sunday afternoon, Neville delivered a typically frank assessment of his former club’s current position having watched them drop more points at home to Southampton on Saturday.
Gary Neville says he knows who is leaking stories from Man United camp.
The 1-1 draw continued a turbulent spell for United, who failed to capitalise on a dominant first-half display against Burnley. They also suffered an embarrassing FA Cup exit at the hands of Championship side Middlesbrough.
The sense that all is not well behind closed doors at United was also reflected in reports that several of the first-team squad were unimpressed with Ralf Rangnick’s “old-fashioned” training methods. United’s players were said to be confused as to why Chris Armas, Rangnick’s assistant, was leading the sessions, jokingly referring to the American as “Ted Lasso.”
Gary Neville reflects on Man United’s poor form.
“I thought that was downright disrespectful on Friday,” Neville says.
“I didn’t find it funny at all that they were describing the number two of Ralf Rangnick as Ted Lasso. It was disrespectful; I thought it was disgusting, in fact.”
“In fact, it summed up what I think of them, that they are disrespectful.
If I was Ralf Rangnick and his assistant I’d gain strength from that because I wouldn’t want to be on the same page as some of those players that are leaking those types of stories.”
"I didn't find it funny at all. I thought it was disrespectful. I thought it was disgusting in fact."
Gary Neville assesses the current state at Manchester United and shares his views on the leaked reports of disharmony between the players and the coaching staff 🎙️ pic.twitter.com/6IY4DdcI09
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) February 14, 2022
Comparing the situation, Neville recalled one of his earliest experiences working for Sky. When he covered Chelsea in one of their final games under Andre Villas-Boas. The Portuguese manager had decided to leave out several prominent players for a Champions League game with Napoli.
“That is what managers tend to do in their final days at a club, as they see it as a free hit,” Neville said.
“I remember sitting there at lunchtime with our team and they were getting messages of team news being leaked and the manager being slagged off, and I sat there thinking; does this actually happen?”
“Players’ agents and PR teams were briefing the media on a matchday about what was going on inside a club, and it was the first time I had seen it and known for it to happen. It really unnerved me.”
Neville then made the comparison with the current setup at Old Trafford. “That is happening at Manchester United now. They are at it, the PR teams, the agents, and the marketing teams, as a self-preservation for their own player.”
“But what they don’t realise is that unfortunately, when they go to the media, then those media people go to us. We know who is briefing.”
Despite United’s stuttering form, they lie just a point off the top four with a game in hand. They could be overtaken by the likes of Arsenal, Wolves, and Tottenham who have games in hand over them.
They return to action on Tuesday when they face Brighton at Old Trafford.
