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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Tom Blow

Gary Neville takes swipe at Ed Woodward following Man Utd's Manchester derby thrashing

Gary Neville has described Manchester United's 4-1 defeat to rivals Manchester City as a "fitting memorial" to Ed Woodward's reign at the battling Premier League club.

The Red Devils had an afternoon to forget at the Eithad on Sunday, as they collapsed to their seventh league defeat of the season.

The result leaves Ralf Rangnick's side fifth in the Premier League, one point behind Arsenal in fourth having played three games more.

Woodward left his role as United's executive vice-chairman - the top operational role - last month after nine years at the helm. Richard Arnold has succeeded him as CEO.

The administrator was heavily criticised during his time in charge, as United won just three major trophies: the FA Cup, EFL Cup and Europa League.

How do you rate Ed Woodward's time in charge of Manchester United? Let us know in the comments below!

Gary Neville was not impressed with Manchester United's performance against Manchester City (Getty Images)

Woodward oversaw the appointment of four uninspiring managers - David Moyes, Louis van Gaal, Jose Mourinho and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer - and interim boss Rangnick.

But his biggest failure was United's attempt to join the failed European Super League, a closed shop of 12 European clubs that was heavily criticised by the likes of Neville.

And the United icon has pinned Sunday's performance on Woodward's time in charge, also blaming the club's controversial owners the Glazers.

"Still can't get my head around that!" tweeted Neville, refencing a statistic that showed City enjoying 92 per cent possession of the ball at the end of the game.

"However, City aren't just better on the pitch. A new dawn for United with Richard Arnold as CEO and a new manager incoming, but yesterday was a fitting memorial to the 'Ed Woodward/Glazer' last 10 years of mismanagement."

Tensions were high after Sunday's game, as Neville and City icon Micah Richards endured a heated debate over United's direction under Rangnick.

The German will start a two-year consultancy job at Old Trafford this summer and Neville believes he was brought in now to complete a "fact finding mission".

"So are you just getting rid of this season then are you?" Richards asked Neville in response.

Neville replied: "You are ranting emotionally without making any sort of sense. Chelsea have appointed interim managers before just to get them through the season."

Richards responded: "Just because you are connected to United doesn't mean that my opinion is irrelevant, Rangnick's best work is done behind the scenes.

Ed Woodward (left) was recently succeeded by Richard Arnold (right) as United's top operational executive (PA)

"You've brought him as an interim and he's not done great."

Neville then said "stop ranting" again before asking who Richards would've appointed. He replied "Antonio Conte", insisting United should've appointed him ahead of Tottenham.

Richards continued: "He was available before he went to Spurs, he was the best available manager at the time and because he doesn't fit 'The United Way'.

"What's that? You don't win trophies anymore? Conte's a winner, he's come from Inter Milan why would you not want him? Do you not want winners anymore?"

Neville replied: "Conte's not a manager for United. He comes in for one or two years, he does a great job, but we've been there with Jose Mourinho.

"They want to appoint either Mauricio Pochettino or [Erik] Ten-Hag on a long-term project and they needed someone to get them to the end of the season."

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