Gary and Phil Neville both believe that Manchester United’s current defence will drag the club into a relegation battle.

Michael Carrick’s struggling side twice trailed by two goals against Aston Villa on Sunday, rallying back on both occasions to secure a chaotic last-gasp 4-4 draw at Old Trafford.

Manchester United have now conceded 19 goals in just 10 Premier League games this season, leaving the Red Devils sitting in the relegation zone heading into the final international break of 2026.

Gary Neville was a guest pundit on NBC Sports for the draw with Villa, with the ex-Man Utd captain criticising the club’s recruitment over the summer.

After spending around £200million on overhauling their attack in the summer of 2025, United focused on rebuilding their midfield ahead of the 2026/27 season.

But Neville believes that the club should have spent more in order to also fix their leaky defence.

He said: “The reason Manchester United have conceded four goals is because they haven’t invested in the defence in the transfer window.

Under pressure: It is uncertain if Michael Carrick will remain Manchester United boss

Getty

“Every one knew they had to do that, they needed defenders. The current ones are making mistake after mistake after mistake.

“The defenders that finished that game will get you relegated. Watch the defensive errors. We all screamed in the transfer window that they have to bring some defenders in.

“They had to bring the transfer budget forward and bring defenders in.”

United have not signed a senior defender since bringing attack-minded wing-back Patrick Dorgu to the club in January 2025.

Gary’s brother Phil concurred, agreeing that United’s defence as it finished against Villa would end up relegating the club.

Phil also added that it will cost Carrick his job as United manager.

He said: “The back four that finished the game – [Noussair] Mazraoui, [Lenny] Yoro, [Ayden] Heaven and Dorgu – that gets you relegated.

“That back four gets you the sack as a manager and that back four cannot keep United, I don’t think, in the Premier League.

“That back four gets you relegated, it’s poor. It’s not good enough to play in the Premier League.”

The former England midfielder admitted “we haven’t won enough games” but insisted there was no need for conversations about his future.