'What are you talking about?': Jamie Carragher and Gary Neville clash in heated debate over Manchester United
Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher clashed as the Premier League giants clashed over Manchester United's decision to keep Erik ten Hag in the summer.
Ten Hag oversaw one of United's worst Premier League seasons as they finished eighth, the club's worst league position since 1989-90.
However, the Red Devils opted to stay put rather than back down after the Dutchman guided United to an unexpected victory over Manchester City in the FA Cup final.
Ten Hag was further emboldened in the summer when he signed for United great Ruud van Nistelrooy and René Hake as his new management assistants.
Something similar happened in the transfer market: Joshua Zirkzee, Leny Yoro, Matthijs de LigtNoussair Mazraoui and Manuel Ugarte All together in the summer window.
However, United have made a poor start to the season with two defeats in three games, the latest of which was a humiliating 3-0 thrashing at the hands of historic rivals. Liverpool.
Unfortunately, the scoreline could and perhaps should have been larger, given Liverpool's dominance at Old Trafford.
The heavy defeat has again raised questions surrounding Ten Hag's future, with Carragher claiming United “made a mistake” by not releasing him in the summer.
However, the claim sparked a frustrated response from Neville and the two engaged in a heated debate.
“Oh my God, how can you say they've blown it?” Neville told Sky Sports.
“They were really open about the fact that they went looking for a manager to try and replace him. Erik the Hagthey couldn't find any. Bayern Munich He had a few months to replace Tuchel and found it difficult and ended up hiring someone who was the third or fourth choice.
“Liverpool had six months to replace Klopp and hired Arne Slot, who was the third choice. It was not easy to get a coach at the end of last season to Manchester United.”
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Carragher highlighted Neville's admission that United openly sought a new manager during the summer and felt it was not exactly a ringing endorsement of the Dutchman.
“They're looking for someone else and they can't get it,” Carragher said.
“They don't want this coach. If you're happy with your coach, you don't start talking to other coaches. The people you're talking about at Bayern Munich and Liverpool knew that coaches were leaving six months before the end of the season.”
Neville responded by stating that Bayern and Liverpool have yet to secure their first choices to replace him. Thomas Tuchel and Jurgen Klopp respectively, but Carragher responded by saying the clubs “had to find someone”.
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The former United defender also explained the club's decision-making process, admitting the FA Cup triumph “surprises everyone” and prompts a rethink.
“They (United) couldn't find a manager who they thought would take the club forward better than Erik ten Hag at the moment, that's why he kept his job,” Neville said.
“It was difficult to find managers at the end of last season. INEOS tried to find and look for a replacement for Erik ten Hag but they couldn't. So they decided that because he had won the FA Cup they would keep him. What part of that don't you understand?”
While accepting that eighth place was “unacceptable”, Neville felt two trophies with Ten Hag “should not be looked down upon”.
Neville also pointed out that it took years for the likes of Klopp and Arteta's journey to bear fruit in the Premier League, suggesting Ten Hag deserved more time to turn things around.
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Carragher was reluctant to accept Neville's opinion and questioned what difference would be made to United after Ten Hag reshuffled his support staff.
But Neville has once again come out in defence of his former club, highlighting how a new structure within United could be the perfect tonic for Ten Hag to prove his coaching prowess.
“There's a thought process that says every Manchester United manager over the last 10 years is really bad, they're not good enough,” Neville said.
“Van Gaal is not good enough, Rangnick is not good enough, Solskjaer is not good enough, Mourinho is not good enough, Moyes is not good enough. So what they've tried to do is give him a stable platform above him with different people, technical directors, sporting directors, head of recruitment, CEO, all that has changed, but in reality the manager may not be the problem at the club.
“Maybe it's because they don't have the right balance around him, so let's hire the right support staff, which is what they've done, and see if this coach can thrive with better leadership above him. I don't think that's wrong.”
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It was not the first time this afternoon that the two faced each other.
During the match, Carragher reminded Neville of previous comments he made saying he would not swap Manchester United's midfield options for Liverpool's.
Asked by Carragher if that was still the case, Neville, who was talking about the midfield battle, replied: “Would you let me finish? Gravenberch, Mac Allister and Sloboszlai and you think Manchester United have Casemiro,[Bruno]Fernandes, Eriksen, McTominay, Mount, now Ugarte, Mainoo… but they have absolutely destroyed those three for Liverpool.
“That shouldn't be happening and I think it's a real pressure point for Erik ten Hag. The fact that these three Liverpool players in midfield have outplayed and outfought (United) in the way they've organised themselves.
“He has to try to get more out of the players he has at his disposal, because they are not bad players. In theory, they cannot even be changed, but if you look at the pitch, that is not the case.”
Fortunately for Ten Hag, the international break will allow him to enjoy some much-needed time out of the spotlight.
But once the action returns, things won't be much easier for the Red Devils boss.
Travels linked to Southampton for their first game back after the break, followed by a Carabao Cup clash against Barnsley.
The Red Devils will then travel for an away match against Crystal Palace before hosting Twente in the first match of the Europa League.
United next face Tottenham at home before a tricky away double against Port and Aston Villa on October 6.
When United travel to Villa Park, the conversation surrounding Ten Hag's future may sound quite different to what it does now.
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