Neville lets rip on Manchester United ‘complacency’ in defeat to Everton

Gary Neville did not hold back after watching Manchester United lose 1-0 at home to Everton, describing the performance as “unacceptable” and saying it “smacks of complacency”.

United gained an early advantage when Everton midfielder Idrissa Gueye was sent off in the 13th minute for slapping his teammate Michael Keane in a strange moment that left the visiting team in a state of decline. #

Despite this, it was Everton who scored the first goal, through Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall shortly before half-time. Jordan Pickford’s brilliant goalkeeping, coupled with United’s flat display, ensured the visitors protected their lead and condemned the hosts to a home defeat against 10 men for the first time ever.

A win would have pushed Ruben Amorim’s men up to fourth place, but instead, they remain 10th in the crowded Premier League table with just 5 points separating second-placed Chelsea and 12th-placed Liverpool.

Neville felt the chance to jump into the Champions League places had mentally unnerved United before the ball was even kicked.

He said on the Gary Neville Podcast: “It’s as if they imagined in their heads that they would be in the Champions League places, and they thought maybe before the game.

“It reeks of complacency, they haven’t been that way from the start, and that’s bad for United.

“I think they’ve been a lot better in the last few weeks and that probably takes us back to Brentford away.

“You can’t go from the fight they’ve shown in some games to this, it just erodes confidence.

“We’re trying to build confidence in the manager, we’re trying to build confidence in the team.

“The fans booed en masse at the end, and it was loud, and rightfully so – it was a really bad performance.

“It’s like you’ve taken two or three steps forward, and everyone feels a little better about themselves, and you’re just back to the beginning again.

“You can lose football games, but you can’t lose them like this, it’s not good enough, it’s not acceptable.”

Missed opportunities, no excuses

United’s attacking options were stretched, with Joshua Zirkzee starting due to injuries to Benjamin Sisko and Mateusz Cunha.

The Dutch striker had the clearest start to the match, with a quick header that Pickford blocked brilliantly.

Neville denied any talk that absences in the attacking line explained the result, and insisted that Everton simply showed more desire even with 10 players.

“He forgets [injuries to Sesko and Cunha]there are no excuses. “I’m not enjoying this one bit,” he added.

“Everton controlled them with 11 men and 10 men, with a different method of control, but they controlled them through their fight and spirit.”