Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag criticised by club legend as Jamie Carragher row escalates

Manchester United legend Gary Neville has admitted his “heart sank a little” when he saw Erik ten Hag respond to Jamie Carragher’s criticism of his team.

Sky Sports pundit Carragher analysed United’s shortcomings in their 2-1 defeat by Fulham last weekend.

Carragher criticised United’s defending and the space they allowed their opponents in the middle of the park.

Ten Hag then hit back, suggesting the former Liverpool centre-back’s comments were “subjective”.

And Neville has suggested that Ten Hag made a mistake in responding to Carragher’s remarks.

“I must admit that when I saw it appear yesterday [Ten Hag’s criticism of Carragher], my heart sank a little, from a Manchester United perspective, that he was getting involved in that,” he said on Stick to Football.

Gary Neville is interviewed during his job as a football pundit for Sky Sports (Image credit: Getty Images)”The reality is that he might be secretly or privately annoyed and think there are some points you [Carragher] made that are wrong, but [he has to think].

“We have conceded a lot of chances, I’m not going to win this one, we’ve just lost a game, got a big game against Nottingham Forest, let’s not look like I’m even interested in that. That was my thinking.”

Ten Hag oversaw a 1-0 victory over Forest in the fifth round of the FA Cup on Wednesday.

He is now preparing his side to take on Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium this weekend.

Gary Neville was speaking on the Stick to Football podcast, brought to you by Sky Bet.