Neville said Solskjaer's most costly mistake was starting Maguire against Leicester
Gary Neville has said that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's decision to start Harry Maguire against Leicester on Saturday was his biggest mistake as Manchester United slipped to second league defeat of the season.
Maguire was injured during United's home loss against Aston Villa last month and was expected to be about for a matter of weeks. Surprisingly, he was restored to the starting lineup at the King Power stadium, but played a part in all four of his old club's goals as they ran out 4-2 winners.
Admitting that United's performances have been below par throughout the season - not just on Saturday - Neville singled out the selection of Maguire as being Solskjaer's costliest error against Leicester.
"I think picking him in the first place was a big problem," he said on Monday Night Football. "I think the panic of maybe not having [Raphael] Varane and Maguire might have caused him to do that, but then not taking him off at half-time, because it wasn't just the goals - generally, he was nowhere near it."
He added: "I think Eric Bailly should have played next to Victor Lindelof. That was the biggest mistake he made on Saturday. If Maguire had been fit - he's someone who's been brilliant for them for the last two years - they would not have had the trouble they had."
https://twitter.com/footballdaily/status/1450165768025477122
United's loss at Leicester is followed by the Champions League visit of Atalanta on Wednesday night, before a huge Premier League clash with Liverpool at the weekend.
Defeat in either of those games will heap even more pressure on Solskjaer.
Related links:
A real test for the memory! It’s time to test your knowledge of Liverpool F.C. during the 2010s, with this bumper quiz. All you’ll need to do is name ten players who represented the Reds from 2010-2019, a real rollercoaster of a decade at Anfield. Beginning with the tumultuous reign of Roy Hodgson, and ending […]
This quiz is a serious test for the memory We’ve put together the ultimate throwback for anyone who followed the rollercoaster that was Arsenal Football Club during the 2010s. The Gunners may have not quite succeeded in winning a Premier League title during the 2010s, but that doesn’t mean it was a wasted decade. From […]
Spurs face Liverpool on Sunday Two of Spurs’ most important players have been ruled out of the club’s vital clash with Liverpool on Sunday, according to Igor Tudor. The north London club are currently placed just one point outside of the Premier League relegation zone, and must avoid defeat to the Reds to make any […]