Gary Neville blames Ed Woodward - not Jose Mourinho - for Manchester United crisis

Under fire: Ed Woodward
Man Utd via Getty Images
James Robson @jamesrobsonES30 September 2018

Gary Neville launched a fresh attack on Ed Woodward as divisions at Manchester United grow.

The Old Trafford legend, who already accused Woodward of failing to back Jose Mourinho in the transfer market this season, issued an even more stinging assessment of the club’s hierarchy.

Neville claims United have lost their values since Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement and are lacking leadership from the top.

Mourinho’s future has been cast in fresh doubt after the 3-1 defeat to West Ham on Saturday - even if he was assured United are not lining up Zinedine Zidane as a replacement.

Given the brutal sacking of Louis van Gaal - after the Dutchman delivered United’s first piece of major silverware since Ferguson in 2016 - those assurances will sound hollow.

But Neville insists the manager should not be the one in the spotlight.

He Tweeted: “This mess started when United sacked David Moyes after 8 months and we lost all sense of the values that the club had been built on for 100 years. It’s not the manager it’s the lack of football leadership above him. They are bouncing all over the place with no plan!”

Neville’s Tweet received 10,000 likes within an hour on Sunday morning - and The strength of his comments were the latest evidence of splits at the club.

Tensions between Mourinho and Paul Pogba have been played out in public - as well as issues between the Portuguese and Woodward.

Neville is one of United’s most influential voices - and his decision to be so openly critical of the running of the club will have an impact on supporters who have already protested against Woodward this season.

Neville also turned on the executive vice chairman in August after he vetoed Mourinho’s moves for a top class centre back.

The Sky Sports pundit said: “The minute that he gave Jose Mourinho a contract extension, which some would say was unnecessary part way through a season, but believing in a manager, showing the faith, he had to then buy him the centre-backs.

“The club have supported Jose Mourinho and given him a lot of money. But you can’t go half rolls. Don’t three-quarters bulid a house if you’re not going to finish it.”

Neville’s former United teammate Rio Ferdinand believes Woodward is now facing a major dilemma over Mourinho.

He told BT Sport: “There will be conversations at the top level about the future of the manager and the squad. The basics are not being done and something has to be said.

"You can't let a situation like this continue throughout the season - wars in the press, leaks, players on one side of the dressing room, Mourinho and his staff on the other. If that continues this will be one of the worst seasons in the club's history."

REUTERS

Another legend Paul Scholes added after West Ham: "That was as bad as you've seen from a United team for a long time.

"The attitude has been questioned before and it has to be questioned again. The hunger and desire to get amongst people wasn't there. At this minute, this club is in a bit of a mess.

"Is this the end for the manager? I don't know. Who's going to get more out of this team? We just know at this moment in time it feels wrong."

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