- Amorim soon walked back his comments and apologized for what he had said.
- Neville has given his verdict, jumping to the United head coach's defense
- Listen now: It's all starting! Why Arsenal players will laugh at Mikel Arteta behind his back
Manchester United players have been “murdered” by Ruben Amorim's assessment that they are part of the “worst team” in the club's history, Gary Neville has claimed.
Amorim came out with the alarming comment after United suffered a seventh defeat in 15 games under their new head coach against Brighton on Sunday. The 39-year-old also damaged a television in the dressing room during a post-match tirade at Old Trafford.
“We are the worst team maybe in the history of Manchester United,” Amorim admitted after the game.
Shortly after, he apologized in a lengthy comment, with some of it reading: “I'm a young guy and sometimes I make a mistake,” he said before Thursday's Europa League tie against Rangers.
That's why I don't talk after the game. This game, I needed to talk and maybe it was a mistake and then I get more nervous and go to the press conference really nervous and say things I shouldn't say, that's all. I won't promise you that I won't do it again, but I will try to improve.
And former United defender turned Pundit Neville, speaking about The Gary Neville Podcasthas given his assessment of the words, defending the current United boss.
Manchester United players were “murdered” by Ruben Amorim's “worst team ever” comments, Gary Neville has claimed
Amorim made the comments about his team after their last defeat, by Brighton, last week
Neville jumped to the defense of the Red Devils manager, praising his passion and honesty
Red Devils captain Bruno Ferdnandes (right) has urged his teammates to step up to the plate
“I can sympathize with him because emotion and passion is all I want in a football club and manager,” he began. 'He hurts, so he wants to come out and say what I think and that's something I admire.
'It's what we ask, all of us to be honest and authentic. We can't sit here as broadcasters and beat him up for it. What do I try to understand what the impact is like, what would it be like in your own business? If you walked into the office and your boss said you were the worst group of people they've ever had in the office, there would be devastation and the boss probably wouldn't survive.
'The employees would lose faith, trust and belief, so you can only imagine the impact it had on the players. Hearing it from your own manager is different, it has a deeper meaning. He backed off probably because of previous people or players saying, “It kills us.”
'Who are you addressing? Every player has to ask themselves the question: “Do you mean me?” You will have realized the impact of your words on the people you ask to perform for him each week. But I needed to send a message to everyone that this needs to change dramatically.'
United face Fulham in the Premier League on Sunday, looking to improve on the form that has seen them drop to 13th on the league table. They could drop as low as 15 if they lose.
Captain Bruno Fernandes, meanwhile, also appeared to defend his manager in the build-up to the game, urging his teammates to show that they “have the balls to play for this club.”
“The reality is playing here, you have to have that pressure, you have to have the balls to play for this club, that's what it is,” Fernandes said. 'You must feel that every moment in every game is a new opportunity to get us back to the position we deserve.
'Unfortunately for us this season there have been too many ups and downs and every time they seem to get there, they hit us again and we go down.
“What we have to do is every time we take a hit and go down, we have to get up and try to go back.”
