Former Manchester United captain Gary Neville said he was “furious” amid reports that club boss Jose Mourinho could be dismissed as manager after Saturday’s game against Newcastle regardless of the result.
Neville, who played his entire club career at Old Trafford, questioned the “values and principles” of the club if Mourinho were to be sacked.
“Any manager would struggle at that football club with the way that the recruitment is handled, the way in which it is operated,” Neville said on Sky Sports, where he serves as an analyst.
Sources told ESPN FC on Saturday that Mourinho is demanding the public backing of executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward
Sources also said that the Glazer family — who own the club — do not want to terminate Mourinho’s contract, which is due to run until June 2020, despite the club’s struggling form.
Neville made reference to the club hierarchy, saying the blame equally lies with them for the team’s poor performances.
“You have to start looking at the people who are appointing the manager, not the manager. It’s the people who are bringing in the players and sanctioning the deals, the people who are overspending on players, the people who are allowing the tail to wag the dog,” Neville said.
Mourinho goes into Saturday’s fixture searching for a first home win in all competitions since the opening weekend of the season.