Gary Neville branded Manchester United's performance during their 1-1 draw at Fulham as 'the worst 15 minutes I've ever seen' and 'absolutely pathetic'. The former United legend criticised the players' effort levels, questioning what Michael Carrick must be thinking after a Lisandro Martinez own goal gifted Fulham the lead. Neville, who played 602 games for United, spoke from a qualified position backed by stats showing United ranking 16th for distance covered and 17th for sprints this season.

His comments followed a pattern of media criticism, including his December 2021 remarks about United's poor performance against Newcastle. While Carrick's side collected 39 points from 17 games between January and season's end last year, current stats show minimal difference in running metrics despite vastly different results, suggesting the issue may be tactical rather than purely physical.