Gary Neville hits back at critics of Ralf Rangnick after Jesse Lingard decision

07.05.2022 - 06:21 / manchestereveningnews.co.uk

Gary Neville has hit back at critics of Ralf Rangnick after he chose not to bring Jesse Lingard on for what would likely be his final appearance at Old Trafford in a Manchester United shirt on Monday.

Lingard was left as an unused substituted in United's 3-0 victory against Brentford in what was their last home match of the season. The 29-year-old is expected to be leaving in the summer with his contract expiring.

Louie Scott, Lingard's brother, led the angry calls against the club on social media after his sibling was denied an Old Trafford farewell. In today's press conference pre-Brighton, Rangnick had to defend his decision not to bring the England international on.

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He explained: "To start with, I think in the last couple of weeks under my tenure he has played far more games than he used to before I came. Number two: on game day against Chelsea he contacted me in the hotel and asked me to release him from the game and to also release him from the training session the following day and two days after the Chelsea game for personal family reasons, and I also allowed him to do that.

"And this was the reason with only three subs, unfortunately - in the other leagues you have five subs - I had to take a decision between bringing on Edinson Cavani or Jesse Lingard, or even the young Alejandro Garnacho, whom I would have loved to have brought on and given a chance after going 3-0 up with 15 minutes to play. But I took the decision to bring on Edinson for the very reasons I just explained to you.

"Had I not brought on someone maybe someone else might have posted it was classless not to bring on Edinson Cavani or somebody else might have