Gary Neville slams ‘EMBARRASSING’ Manchester United for ‘giving up’ in 4-1 drubbing against City

Gary Neville lambasted Manchester United players for ‘throwing the towel in’ and delivering an embarrassing performance in a 4-1 defeat against City in the Manchester derby.

Trailing to a Kevin De Bruyne goal after just five minutes, United rallied and eventually gained a foothold in the game, drawing level halfway through the first half courtesy of a brilliant finish by Jadon Sancho.

De Bruyne put City back in front shortly after but Ralf Rangnick’s team remained in the game until the end of the first half, before the wheels came off spectacularly after the restart.

The Premier League champions completely outclassed their rivals in the second half, with Riyad Mahrez scoring twice as United failed to lay a glove on their rivals. 

City toyed with their rivals and enjoyed 92 per cent of possession in the final 15 minutes.

‘Manchester United’s response to going 3-1 down has been embarrassing. I have never seen anything like that in any game of football,’ Neville said while on-commentary on Sky Sports.

United were in the game in the first half but were completely outclassed after the break

Aaron Wan-Bissaka was one of the many United players enduring a torrid afternoon

Ralf Rangnick has now seen his team drop to fifth in the Premier League table 

‘Ninety-two per cent possession for City? They [United] have given up. I get the fact that it’s hard, they are playing against a top team but they are walking around the pitch. It’s nowhere near good enough.

‘I don’t think the scoreline it’s the problem, it’s the response to going 3-1 down that’s been the biggest problem for me. They have absolutely thrown the towel in.’

City were comfortably better than United in every department, ending the game with 24 shots to the visitors’ five and keeping the ball for 70 percent of the game. 

Through their slick passing and constant movement Mahrez, De Bruyne, Bernardo Silva, Phil Foden and Jack Grealish proved a constant thorn in the side for United’s back four, who simply could not cope with City.

Kevin De Bruyne scored twice as City crushed their rivals with a brilliant display

Riyad Mahrez added a double in the second-half, as City tore United to shreds 

Neville acknowledged the gulf between the sides, but insisted the demeanour of several United players was a far bigger concern than the gap in quality between the two Manchester rivals.

‘The first thing to say is that Manchester City were outstanding, particularly in the second-half,’ he added.

‘But at the end of the game, Manchester United finished like an absolute shower. They were a disgrace in the last 25 minutes.

‘It’s the first time Ralf Rangnick has taken them against a proper team and they have been given a proper doing.’