'The squad is so poor' - Gary Neville says he only trusts two Man Utd players (2025)

Manchester United legend Gary Neville has questioned the ‘standard of quality’ within Ruben Amorim’s squad and claims there are only two players he would ‘hang his hat on’.

The Red Devils’ season slumped to a new low at the weekend as they were thumped 4-1 away to Newcastle after a wretched second-half performance at St James’ Park.

The result leaves United stranded down in 14th place and means the club will finish the campaign with their worst ever tally in the Premier League, even if they win all six of their remaining games.

The Europa League represents United’s last shot at saving the season and there is enormous pressure on Amorim ahead of Thursday night’s quarter-final second leg with Lyon – after last week’s 2-2 draw.

United’s hierarchy are ready to splash the cash and back Amorim with a complete squad overhaul when the summer transfer window opens for business in order to steer the team back towards to their former glory.

But Neville ‘doesn’t even know where to start’ when it comes to United’s recruitment given the ‘massive issues’ throughout Amorim’s ranks, from goalkeeper right through to attack.

‘There are massive issues and, honestly, you just don’t know where to start, you don’t know where to build the first step from,’ the ex-United and England right-back said on NBC Sports.

‘That’s the problem at the moment and there is a serious amount of time required in good recruitment for that club to get right.’

Neville picked out United captain Bruno Fernandes and Amad Diallo as the only two players in Amorim’s squad that he trusts.

‘The problem with this group of players is they’re giving it their all. I don’t think there is a lack of effort,’ he added.

‘They are so below the standard of quality that you need at that football club, all over the pitch.

‘Other than Bruno Fernandes, Amad Diallo maybe, I can’t think of any of them that I would hang my hat on.

‘It’s a really desperate situation because the squad is so poor in quality.

‘They’ve got old players, they’ve got young players that are nowhere near it and they’ve got a group of players in the middle. It’s a worrying situation.’

Speaking after United’s humbling loss at Newcastle, a defiant Amorim insisted he ‘didn’t care’ about any criticism coming his way.

‘I understand but I don’t care. Nothing is worse than losing games,’ the United head coach told reporters.

‘People can say whatever they want to say. I don’t want to defend myself or anything like that.

‘If you look at our position in the table, it says it all. Thursday is really important. Losing games is the hardest part by far of this job. Let’s focus on Thursday [against Lyon].

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