Manchester United star Scott McTominay responds directly to former players’ criticism after Manchester derby loss
Speaking to Sky Sports after the game, Manchester United midfielder Scott McTominay dismissed suggestions from former United players that the team ‘gave up’ in the second half of the Manchester derby as the side lost 4-1 to Manchester City.
Despite winning the previous three visits to the Etihad Stadium, the Red Devils put in a shocking performance on the pitch last night as they were blown apart by a dazzling attacking display courtesy of the Cityzens.
Former United players Roy Keane and Gary Neville suggested that certain players ‘threw in the towel’ during the clash at the Etihad, but McTominay brushed away these suggestions and insisted that they were outclassed by a strong team.
“I’ll have to watch it back and see body language and things like that but, for myself, it hurts. If you give a team like that all the time in the world in the second half, you’re gonna get punished. It’s as simple as that.”
The midfielder played the entire 90 minutes of a game that saw the away side head into halftime only a goal down at 2-1, but were torn apart by their opponents in the second half as they conceded two more courtesy of Riyad Mahrez.
“Incredibly disappointing”
The Red Devils were without new signings Cristiano Ronaldo and Raphael Varane through injuries, and the pair were certainly missed in attack and defence respectively as United were outplayed by their noisy neighbours in a commanding performance on the pitch.
McTominay said he was disappointed with the comments from Keane and Neville, and said that they were entitled to their opinions. The Scot’s first game back in action from an illness did not go to plan, and he will need to pick up his socks for our next few games to bounce back from this.
“From my point of view, on the pitch, it’s hard to see what’s going on around you but if that’s what people are saying then so be it. They’re all entitled to their own opinion but, for myself, it’s incredibly disappointing if people think that.”
This result sees City complete the double over United this season, having won 2-0 at Old Trafford earlier in the campaign. In both games, Pep Guardiola’s side have looked the stronger and balanced side as we have hardly put them under pressure or threatened their goalkeeper.
In more worrying news for us, the loss sees the team pushed down to fifth place and out of the Champions League qualification spots in the Premier League table. Arsenal are two points ahead of us, and have a whopping 3 games in hand over us to solidify their lead.
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McTominay was part of a group of players that seemingly looked low on confidence, with Keane and Neville’s comments about the United stars giving up not too far off the mark. The second half was abysmal, with us barely having any possession or any shots taken at Ederson.
Losing a derby is always painful, but the manner in which the players performed last night is what is truly heart-breaking. A response will be needed next weekend against Tottenham Hotspur, and the players will need to have a long and hard look at themselves before they take to the field again.