The abysmal form has United sitting 16th in the Premier League table, one point adrift of the relegation zone. Carrick’s side has also won just two of their first 12 matches across all competitions.

It’s no secret that the players are underperforming, and most opponents look hundreds of miles ahead in terms of fitness and match sharpness. That is why many fans, including Neville, are pointing the finger at the players for letting Carrick and the club down. Bryan Robson’s recent column urged the players to raise their standards.

Michael Carrick’s perfect response to Gary Neville

Neville went in on the players when he questioned some of them for not being as professional as they need to be as United players.

During a rant about Bruno Fernandes questioning Carrick’s tactics and some of the players’ professionalism, Neville said: “There’s a few of them who aren’t that professional. There’s a couple of them… I live in Manchester; they’re not that professional, some of them. So I’ve got no time for them.

“There’s a few of them who don’t go to bed at the right time, don’t eat the right things, don’t think about Manchester United every single minute of every single day. They are not living and breathing this football club as they should be, like professionals.

“Why? Why? Because it’s gone to their heads. But they still walk around like they’re king. They’re not. They’re nothing, some of those players.”

It was hard-hitting stuff from Neville, and it was only a matter of time before Carrick would be asked about the comments. The journalists wasted no time in asking the 45-year-old for his reaction during part two of Friday’s press conference.

Carrick initially denied that he had experienced any unprofessionalism from his players, which suggests he is still willing to defend them in the media. He was then asked if he was surprised by Neville’s comments. The United head coach fittingly said: “Gary says a lot of things.”

This is true because Neville is never too far away from a podcast platform – The Overlap – where he can air his views on pretty much anything. Carrick was then quizzed on Fernandes’ captaincy, and whether he agrees with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer on why the Norwegian felt Harry Maguire was better suited to the role.

“I don’t think it’s about comparison opinions to others,” Carrick added.

“He’s the captain of our football club, and there’s different personalities, there’s different characteristics, there’s different ways to lead. It all comes down to what happens on the football pitch and whether you win or not in the end. So, all the questions get asked, but I understand why you’re asking them now, but he cares deeply about this football club and about the team, and he’s desperate to do well. So, we’ll lead that together.”

Carrick was also asked about the warm reception he received from the fans after losing to Bournemouth, as well as the frustration directed at the players. He stressed that he wants to overcome this united as a team.

“Yeah, I mean, it was mixed feelings. I’ll be totally honest, it was mixed feelings for me, to have the appreciation from the supporters and that connection and that respect, is something I feel strongly about. It was, I mean, I say nice, it wasn’t a nice situation, but to feel that was important, of course, but it didn’t make me feel better in the fact that I’m with the players 100 per cent, and we’re all in it together. And I’ve told the players that, I’m happy to say that.

“I didn’t feel comfortable being in any way, shape, or form separate from that; that’s my group, they’re my players, and this is my football club. So we all have to be in it together and that’s the supporters included, as hard as it is at the moment, totally get that, I get their feelings, but when we get through this, then we’ll be a lot stronger as a whole.”