Neville calls Manchester United ‘pathetic’, Carrick optimistic about road ahead

Its been a far from ideal start for United, who now sit in 12th in the table with just five points and a solitary win after five games.

Updated : Sep 21, 2026 09:51 IST , London - 3 MINS READ

Its the worst start to a Premier League season for United since 2014-15, as pressure continues to mount on Carrick.  | Photo Credit: AP

Gary Neville did not hold back in his criticism of his former club after Manchester United was held to a 1-1 draw by Fulham in the Premier League on Sunday.

“I’ve watched Man United since the age of five and that’s the worst 15 minutes I’ve ever seen. Absolutely pathetic,” the former United captain said.

Neville was equally scathing about the team’s lack of intensity, adding: “I’ve never seen such a lack of effort. What must Carrick be thinking?”

It has been a difficult start to the campaign for United, which sits 12th in the table with five points and just one win from its opening five games.

It is the club’s worst start to a Premier League season since 2014-15, with pressure continuing to build on manager Michael Carrick.

Carrick had been expected to build on United’s third-place finish last season, achieved during his spell as interim boss.

But after helping haul United out of the wreckage of Ruben Amorim’s troubled reign, Carrick now finds himself under pressure just months into his first season as permanent manager.

The boss has had his say on today's draw at Fulham 🗣️

— Manchester United (@ManUtd) September 20, 2026

A wretched 2-0 defeat at promoted Hull on the opening weekend set alarm bells ringing among the United faithful.

Beaten in the Manchester derby by an Erling Haaland goal that should have been ruled out last weekend, United then surrendered a two-goal lead at home for the first time in 50 years in a League Cup meltdown against Brighton.

Carrick does not have the confrontational personality of some of his predecessors at United, but he has sought to quieten the growing noise while looking for reasons for optimism.

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“It’s not been ideal. It was always going to come at some point and it’s come at the start of the season,” he said.

“On the other side of it, at Everton, a 25-yard shot, top corner for their equaliser. The City goal that’s not a goal. Today, own-goal, that’s one of them things.

“It’s pretty fine margins that have flipped it. I know we can do better, we need to do better at certain things.

“But I’m not despondent because I think we’ve shown some good signs as well.”

Carrick has three weeks to stew on United’s miserable start during an extended international break.

Questions about United’s transfer policy and fitness regime are growing louder.

The 45-year-old must come up with answers before it returns to action with a crucial clash against bottom-of-the-table Tottenham on October 10.

Losing to Roberto De Zerbi’s side would be a huge blow to Carrick’s hopes of turning the tide, especially with tricky trips to Atletico Madrid and Leeds looming after Tottenham visit Old Trafford.

But Carrick is putting his faith in United’s players absorbing the lessons from their painful start.

“You learn about each other, they learn about me, I learn about the individual and as a team, how we respond, what our reaction is,” he said.

“That’s part of growing as a group. You have to go through certain things to get to the end of it.”

(With inputs from AFP)

Published on Sep 21, 2026

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