Michael Carrick defends Man Utd players after Gary Neville's 'pathetic' criticism

Michael Carrick has defended his Manchester United players after former teammate Gary Neville called their performance "pathetic" during a 1-1 draw at Fulham, insisting the squad's fitness and effort are not in question. Neville's criticism came after a poor 15-minute spell in the second half, which saw Lisandro Martinez score an own goal before Matheus Cunha's deflected 89th-minute strike rescued a point. The result follows defeats to Manchester City and Brighton, leaving United 12th in the Premier League with five points from five games. Carrick pointed to his team's strong finish as evidence of fitness, while acknowledging fan frustration after supporters booed his decision to substitute Kobbie Mainoo. United face broader challenges, including a £70m signing yet to debut, an injured striker, and upcoming financial results revealing the club's debt.