Neville brothers slam United’s ‘garbage defending’

LONDON: Former Manchester United fullbacks Gary and Phil Neville have slammed the club’s “garbage” defending after the crushing 4-0 defeat to Chelsea in the English Premier League.

They also ripped into United’s high-priced midfield, which included £89mil (RM454mil) signing Paul Pogba, after N’Golo Kante was able to waltz through them for Chelsea’s fourth goal.

United manager Jose Mourinho blamed “incredible defensive mistakes” for the humiliating defeat on his return to Stamford Bridge, where he won three Premier League titles in two stints in charge.

“For the fourth goal, (Ander) Herrera and Paul Pogba there, I think it’s absolutely scandalous,” Phil Neville was quoted as saying by dailymail.co.uk.

Gary, now a Sky Sports pundit, said on Sunday: “They are like mannequins in those red shirts. He (Kante) has walked through £130mil (RM663mil) of midfield. It’s absolutely garbage defending.”

In addition to a porous defence and trampled-over midfield, target man Zlatan Ibrahimovic looked off the pace, leaving 18-year-old Marcus Rashford to do too much work.

Having made a flying start to his United career with four goals in as many games, the 35-year old Ibrahimovic has netted just once in his last eight appearances, a 1-0 Europa League win over Ukrainians Zorya Luhansk.

Pogba, who scored twice in Thursday’s 4-1 win over Turkish side Fenerbahce, is struggling for consistency in a three-man midfield crying out for a creative playmaker.

Mourinho’s main concern must be the shaky defence, however, and they will face another stern test with the visit of Manchester City in the League Cup fourth round tomorrow. — Reuters