The legendary Gary Neville has reacted angrily to the criticism Scott McTominay received prior to his heroics in the 2-1 victory against Brentford for Manchester United on Saturday. Before McTominay, a forgotten player, rose up to save his team with two late goals, Erik ten Hag’s team was down in stoppage time and on the edge of another disastrous outcome.
McTominay’s brace followed a summer in which he was frequently mentioned as a potential transfer target, having apparently fallen out of favor with Ten Hag. Mason Mount and Sofyan Amrabat were added by the Dutchman to the midfield since McTominay was routinely passed over for a spot on the team.
Neville has delivered an impassioned defense of the 26-year-old as he thought back on United’s success and what exactly McTominay brings to the squad. This led to some concerns about the Scot, which he helped alleviate with his brace against Brentford.
He remarked, “Manchester United, yesterday I was happy,” on the Gary Neville Podcast. “Because I adore Brentford, I felt bad for them, but it was a big deal.
“Huge in the sense that it would have been a downbeat start to the season, and by no stretch of the imagination does beating Brentford with two goals scored at home in the 93rd and 97th minutes indicate everything is okay, that’s far from the truth – it’s a shambles. For Scott McTominay, I was delighted.
What is posted on social media I have observed over the past several weeks that this is a classic sign that a club is in trouble when fans and the media begin to doubt the work ethic of a young player who has gone through the academy since he or she was seven or eight years old. Sorry, but I can’t accept that; that youngster would break down a brick wall for the club.
“The stability that should be permeating the club at the moment is not there, and that is the fundamental question. Manchester United will not, in my opinion, place among the top five teams this year. They are much off, which surprises me considering that I predicted they would finish third once more seven or eight weeks ago.
One of the key traits McTominay exhibits in games is his work ethic. He entered the club as a five-year-old and went through the United system.
With nearly 150 club appearances under his belt and two goals against Brentford to go along with his international exploits that have seen only Romelu Lukaku score more goals than the Scot in qualifying for Euro 2024, he may even fancy himself as more of a goalscorer. He also obviously has the support of club legend Neville.