Man Utd: Michael Carrick defends players after Gary Neville comments

Key Points:

• Gary Neville harshly criticized Manchester United's performance against Fulham, calling a 15-minute spell "the worst" he has ever seen and describing it as "absolutely pathetic" due to a lack of effort.
• United drew 1-1 with Fulham after Lisandro Martinez's own goal put Fulham ahead and Matheus Cunha scored a late equalizer; the result leaves United 12th in the Premier League, five points from safety and 10 points behind leaders Manchester City.
• Questions about United's fitness have surfaced, with midfielder Matheus Cunha acknowledging Fulham showed more energy in the second half, while interim manager Michael Carrick defended his squad's fitness, citing their strong finish.
• Fan frustration is mounting, evidenced by boos directed at Carrick for a late substitution, amid broader concerns about team performance, injuries to key players, and off-field issues including ticketing controversies and the club's financial situation.
• Despite the poor start, Carrick remains optimistic about the season ahead, emphasizing the long-term nature of the campaign and rejecting the notion of deflation within the squad or club.