Gary Neville named the players on NBC Sports after watching his former club blow a two-goal lead twice at Old Trafford on Sunday.
“The back-four that finished the game, Mazraoui, Yoro, Heaven and Dorgu, that gets you relegated,” he told the US broadcaster.
“That back-four gets you the sack as a manager and that back-four cannot keep United, I don’t think, in the Premier League. It’s not good enough to play in the Premier League.”
A late point that solved nothing
Patrick Dorgu’s header in the 96th minute rescued a draw after Alysson and Nicolas Jackson had put Aston Villa 2-0 up inside four minutes. United hit back through a Bruno Fernandes penalty and a Youri Tielemans finish before halftime, only to concede twice early in the second half to John McGinn and Leon Goretzka. Joshua Zirkzee pulled one back in the 92nd minute before Dorgu levelled.
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The draw left Michael Carrick’s side 18th in the Premier League after 10 matches with eight points, one win and five draws. United sit a point behind Coventry City and a point above Sunderland.
“A really sorry situation”
Neville also called the position a “really sorry situation” and pointed back to the summer transfer window.
“The reason Manchester United have conceded four goals is because they haven’t invested in the defence in the transfer window,” he said.
Carrick: “That’s not going to happen”
The naming is what makes this different. For months the loudest voices around United have aimed at the boardroom, the recruitment and the ownership. On Sunday, the criticism acquired four surnames.
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Carrick was asked afterwards whether he had considered walking away. He refused the premise and said he expected to be in charge for the next match.
“That’s not going to happen,” he said.
United are now on an eight-match winless run in the Premier League, a club record in the competition. Their next fixture is at home to Liverpool on Sunday 22 November, after the international break.
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