Gary Neville has warned that Manchester United’s attacking talent is creating a defensive problem for Michael Carrick after the 1-1 draw at Fulham.
United needed an 89th-minute equaliser from Matheus Cunha to salvage a point after Lisandro Martinez’s own goal had given Fulham the lead. Despite registering 29 shots to Fulham’s 12, United’s expected goals figure was only marginally higher at 1.59 compared with 1.57.
Gary Neville criticises Manchester United’s defensive structure
Speaking on Sky Sports, Neville said Carrick’s difficulties extended beyond the back four, arguing that several midfielders and attackers were offering too little protection when United lost possession.
“I wish he could play all of those attacking players,” Neville said. “But they are going to kill him defensively.”
He singled out Bryan Mbeumo and Marcus Rashford for remaining “too high and wide” rather than narrowing their positions when tracking back. Neville also questioned the pace of Youri Tielemans and Kobbie Mainoo in midfield.
“Bruno floats around a little bit, and then Cunha floats around a little bit,” he said. “You’ve got these five or six players who are better with the ball than without the ball.”
Neville added that Carlos Baleba could come into the midfield, but said United would still need to address their overall defensive organisation rather than rely solely on personnel changes.
“It would be great to see them score loads of goals and maybe concede one or two and go and win games, but there is going to have to be a reset from the point of view of defensive structure because there are far too many of them walking on the pitch,” he said.
The former United defender also described the opening 15 minutes of the second half as the worst he had seen from the club, accusing the players of walking while Fulham had possession.
Manchester United’s lack of balance exposed at Fulham
The criticism reflects a lack of compactness in Carrick’s side. With Mbeumo and Rashford staying high and wide, while Bruno Fernandes and Cunha moved into more fluid roles, United left space around the midfield for Fulham to exploit.
That imbalance helped Fulham build attacks comfortably despite United’s dominance in the shot count. The draw leaves United with five points from their opening five Premier League matches, their joint-worst return at this stage of a Premier League season.
United are averaging one point per game under Carrick this term, compared with 2.3 last season. Neville’s assessment was that the solution did not necessarily involve removing the club’s attacking players, but giving them clearer defensive responsibilities, tighter distances between the lines and a more effective collective press.
