After Liverpool defeated Manchester United 3-0, Jamie Carragher and Gary Neville got into a heated debate live on television.
Jamie Carragher and Gary Neville after Liverpool’s win over Manchester United. (Image: Sky Sports.)
After Manchester United’s 3-0 loss to Liverpool, Sky Sports analysts Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher engaged into a furious debate about Erik ten Hag’s future as head coach of the Red Devils live on television.
The Dutchman received a new contract and a vote of confidence from the INEOS decision-makers in the summer, but the team’s long-standing issues have reappeared, as seen by Mohamed Salah’s goalless end at Old Trafford and two goals from Luis Diaz.
Carragher supported the Sir Jim Ratcliffe-led team’s decision to fire Ten Hag at the conclusion of the season, but Neville thought the manager should have been given more time, which led to an argument between the two.
Carragher asserted, “I don’t think anything is going to change in terms of the football.” “I’ve witnessed this at Liverpool previously. Rewind to the time before (Jurgen) Klopp took over, when there were rumours that Brendan Rodgers would be fired after just one season. FSG, they kept him on staff while Rodgers made staff changes since they were unsure of what to do.
“You anticipate a different response, but the manager is the key player. In October, Rodgers passed away. “We will see where we are at the end of the season,” Ten Hag stated in the interview. If he is still there at the end of the season, I would be shocked.”
As the two argued and interrupted each other, a visibly upset Neville retaliated, saying, “They (INEOS) were open about the fact that they looked to go for a manager to replace Erik ten Hag and they couldn’t find one.”
“Everyone is shocked when Erik ten Hag wins the FA Cup, and they decide to keep searching throughout Europe for a manager. They were unable to locate a manager who they believed would lead the team more successfully than Ten Hag. So he continued to work. The fact that winning two trophies in two years is now a terrible thing shouldn’t be downplayed.
“They have won two trophies in the last two seasons, but finishing eighth in the league is unacceptable.” There have been seasons in Manchester United’s past where they went for years without taking home a trophy. It took Sir Alex Ferguson six or seven years to win a Premier League title. It takes time; Klopp’s path took five or six years, and Michael Arteta’s is as well.”
“In the third season under Jurgen Klopp, they were in the Champions League final and you could see something building going forward,” Carragher retaliated to Neville’s plea for patience.
“One of the biggest teams in the world is Manchester United. Would Bayern Munich or Real Madrid be content to finish sixth in their league? We are stating that we are currently with Manchester United in the seventh position.”
"Would Real Madrid or Bayern Munich accept being 6th in their league?"
Gary Neville & Jamie Carragher debate Manchester United 😅 pic.twitter.com/dW2uKlBfKH
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) September 1, 2024
Neville started to see Carragher’s point of view and agreed that if Ten Hag’s problems persisted, the hierarchy would be forced to fire him.
“Erik ten Hag will get a few months with these new players coming in – (Rasmus) Hojlund coming back and (Manuel) Ugarte coming in,” Neville stated. “He can’t be eighth at the end of November, he has to be in the top four or five.”
