Former Stoke City, Wrexham and Burnley striker Jonathan Walters has criticised Manchester United's 'unacceptable' lack of work rate during their recent run of awful form.
After an amazing start under new manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, United have lost their way in recent weeks and have embarked on their worst series of results since the 1960s.
United have only managed to pick up two - and fortunate ones at that - victories in their last 10 games in all competitions which has seen seen them eliminated from the FA Cup, Champions League and on the verge of missing out on the Premier League's top four.
The horrendous run has led to several United players having their efforts and work rate called into question, and Walters has done just that, deeming it 'unacceptable.'
"Against the top six at Stoke we used to beat them by work-rate and running yourself into the ground," the retired striker told 888sport .
"I saw the average running stats for Manchester United over their last seven games and Juan Mata was up there at 11.5k but it went down from there to those with 7 or 8k.
“For me as a player that is unacceptable. If that was at Manchester City the players wouldn’t be getting in the team. Sometimes it’s a cheap dig to blame the fitness of players but you have to be able to compete.
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"At Stoke if we were playing against a team like United when they’re not as fit, we’ll run all over them.
"If I was a manger that is a given – you have to out-work teams. I’d be very interested to see the running stats comparing Manchester United with City or Liverpool. Look at Liverpool at Barcelona last night.
"I know it was 3-0 but their tempo and pressing and working for each other troubled Barcelona and if the top teams and best players in the world are doing it then everybody needs to.
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“When you play against Manchester City their defence press quickly and they don’t drop deep so as a striker you don’t get a rest, you have to stay up with them or you’re not onside. They way that Pep and Jurgen Klopp have got their teams working is unbelievable.”
Thanks to the similarly shocking form of the other teams competing, United still have an extremly slim chance of qualifying for next season's Champions League campaign - but they need a quick turnaround and a big win against Huddersfield on Sunday to stand a chance.
Read the full 888sport interview with Jonathan Walters Here .
