Gary Neville has criticised Michael Carrick's decision to delay introducing Benjamin Sesko until the 67th minute of Manchester United's 1-0 defeat to ten-man Manchester City, insisting it was 'obvious' the game-plan 'wasn't quite working' and the striker should have been brought on at half-time.
Erling Haaland's controversial 60th-minute goal proved decisive at Old Trafford, extending City's perfect start to the Premier League season. The visitors had been reduced to ten men when Phil Foden was sent off for a petulant kick on Bruno Fernandes, a dismissal that will see the midfielder suspended for three matches.
Despite the numerical disadvantage, City secured what Neville described as their most satisfying win since Enzo Maresca succeeded Pep Guardiola, moving level on points with Arsenal at the top of the table.
Neville's Tactical Analysis
Speaking on Sky Sports, Neville was asked what his former club should take from the setback. 'I'd like to think that they're not concentrating and focussing on the refereeing decisions and they're focussing on the work they need to do on improving their performance,' he said. 'What you don't want to do is give football players or anybody excuses. That's it.'
He added: 'So they've got to go out there tomorrow, or whenever it is that they start training again, and begin to think about what happens when they go down to ten men again. We can't just run out of ideas, be complacent and not shift the ball quickly.'
For a fourth consecutive league game, Matheus Cunha started up front for United, leaving Sesko disappointed given his previous impact – he had scored United's second in the 2-2 draw with Everton. The Slovenia international was eventually sent on in place of Youri Tielemans in the 67th minute but failed to replicate that performance.
Carrick's Substitution Timing Questioned
'I think Michael Carrick maybe will reflect upon the fact that he could have made changes earlier,' Neville continued. 'When you know for 20 minutes before half-time that it's not going your way with 11 men, I think then Sesko should have come on straightaway to be a bit more of a battering ram up top. It was obvious it wasn't quite working.'
'He made the substitution eventually after 67 minutes which only left Sesko with 25 minutes so things like that will be reflected on and analysed I'm sure. That's what they've got to concentrate on.'
United have since received an official apology from Pro Ref for Haaland's goal, but Neville urged the squad to focus on their own performance rather than officiating decisions.
Keane Urges Calm Amid Poor Start
In his post-match analysis, Roy Keane, Neville's former team-mate and captain, urged Carrick and his squad not to 'panic' despite their shaky start to the campaign. 'It's been a poor start, no doubt about it. Today was a setback but I still think the players will react,' Keane said.
'They've got a cup game during the week then they've got Fulham and those games are winnable on paper. No, there's certainly no need to panic but obviously the real challenge for Carrick and his staff, when he got the job permanently, people wanted a good start and he's not had that. No doubt there will be pressure after today's game but I would say just keep your heads.'
City face Norwich in the Carabao Cup third round on Thursday before hosting Sunderland in the league next weekend. United travel to Brighton in the cup and then face Fulham away, with both matches seen as winnable opportunities to recover from their third defeat of the season.
