Gary Neville responds to 'inside man' accusation after attending crunch Man Utd meeting
Former Manchester United defender Gary Neville was asked by Ian Wright about his influence at the club after he attended a meeting at Old Trafford
by Press Association · The MirrorGary Neville has denied he is an “inside man” at Old Trafford after he attended a meeting at Old Trafford to discuss the stadium’s regeneration.
Former United defender Neville was asked for his thoughts on United’s on-going struggles by ex-Arsenal striker Ian Wright on the Stick To Football podcast. United have made their worst start to a Premier League season since 1989-90 after winning two of their first seven games, which has left them 14th in the table.
Former United players Roy Keane and Wayne Rooney were also joined by ex-England midfielder Jill Scott to discuss the problems at United and Wright asked for Neville’s thoughts as “an inside man”.
Neville said: “I’m not on the inside of it, no I’m not. I went on Monday to meet them about the regeneration side.” When pressed on whether footballing matters were discussed, Neville added: “Not at all.”
United boss Erik ten Hag has come under huge pressure again after United’s poor performances and Keane said on the podcast that he has not considered the possibility of replacing the Dutchman because he has not been asked.
When TV pundit Wright asked Keane if he would consider stepping in at Old Trafford, Keane said: “Who, me? They’re not going to be asking me. They just wouldn’t. It’s not going to happen.
“The only time you can answer a question about would you walk in there? Would you walk in at Celtic? Would you walk in at a different company? It’s when you’re asked.”
They agreed that one of the key factors was the players’ collective lack of desire. Wright added: “Yeah, but where are they going to get it from, Roy? Who’s going to turn (things) around if it’s not someone like yourself?
“All those things that need to be instilled, need to be instilled by people who were there. Are we supposed to think that United are going to get a new manager in and all of a sudden that’s all going to click into place?”
Rooney lamented United’s display in the recent 3-0 home defeat to Tottenham. He said: “Something needs to change and I’m not saying that’s purely the manager, but the performances and the lack of desire when you watch the players, it’s crazy.
“I was there at the Tottenham game and that’s as bad as I’ve seen in Old Trafford for a long, long time.”
Keane said United’s performance-levels hit a new low after they were held 1-1 by Twente in a home Europa League tie.
“The players came out after the match and are going, ‘I think they wanted it more than us’. I kind of gave up at that stage. If that’s the noise coming out of the dressing room, then no wonder the manager is in trouble.”
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