Gary Neville has branded a disgraceful possession stat as the fault of former executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward, as well as the owners of Manchester United, Glazers, for their years of ‘mismanagement.’
On Sunday afternoon, Neville’s former club travelled to the Etihad to go head-to-head with their next-door neighbours, Manchester City.
Having not lost in the Premier League since 3 January, Ralf Rangnick’s side were hoping to put up a fight against a Pep Guardiola side that has dominated the league so far this season.
However, the result reflected a distinct lack of fight. Rangnick’s squad had registered 30% possession by the end of the 90 minutes. They had also managed just five shots (all of which came in the first half) compared to City’s total of 24.
But the knockout stat on the day came towards the end of the clash. A screenshot that Gary Neville posted on Twitter shows Manchester United registered just 8% possession in the closing 15 minutes.
Neville captioned the screenshot with the following:
“Still can’t get my head around that!
“However, City aren’t just better on the pitch. A new dawn for United with Richard Arnold as CEO and a new manager incoming but yesterday was a fitting memorial to the “Ed Woodward/Glazer “last 10 years of mismanagement.”
Why did Gary Neville blame the Glazers?
Manchester United fans’ disapproval of the Glazers’ ownership is nothing new. Malcolm Glazer, who passed away in 2014, took over United in the mid-2000s. Since his death, his six children currently oversee ownership of the club.
Ed Woodward, former vice-chairman and effective CEO, was appointed to his position by the Glazers. In the partnership’s era, the side that once dominated Europe have since fallen into the shadow of their neighbours, City.
Many fans are displeased with the club’s management under Woodward and the Glazers and blame the duo for the club’s misfortune in recent years.
How much blame should the players face?
Ultimately, as much as one can criticise the club’s mismanagement, it is the players’ performances that led to Neville’s sad stat.
It was Scott McTominay, in particular, that frustrated fellow pundit and former Manchester United player Roy Keane on Sunday.
“Look at McTominay. I mean, he seems an honest enough kid, don’t get me wrong, but that’s just… at this level! Tackle him!”
Manchester City were certainly expected to dominate possession on the day. However, the United players must face their fair share of criticism for their performance.
