Mejbri should NOT be praised for Liverpool cameo, says Savage

‘Has it really comes to this?’: Man United youngster Hannibal Mejbri should NOT be praised for his ‘excitable cameo’ against Liverpool, says Robbie Savage… as he disagrees with Gary Neville by claiming the teenager ‘could have been sent off’

  • Gary Neville heaped praise on Man Utd youngster Hannibal Mejbri on Tuesday
  • Mejbri came off the bench and made some big tackles in a 4-0 loss at Liverpool
  • Neville admitted the 19-year-old made him ‘proud’ despite his poor discipline 
  • But Robbie Savage cannot fathom why he is being credited for the display
  • He feels Mejbri was lucky to avoid a red card and could have made things worse
  • Savage also believes United’s ‘culture’ needs a reset after their miserable season

Manchester United youngster Hannibal Mejbri did not deserve praise from Gary Neville for his ‘excitable cameo’ in Tuesday’s 4-0 defeat at Liverpool, says Robbie Savage.

United were torn apart by their bitter rivals at Anfield, falling two goals behind inside 22 minutes and then conceding another couple in the second half.

However, Red Devils legend Neville pointed to Mejbri as one positive for his former side to take from an otherwise miserable outing, commending him for coming off the bench late on and showing the kind of fight that was lacking from his team-mates.

Hannibal Mejbri did not deserve praise from Gary Neville for his ‘excitable cameo’ in Man Utd’s 4-0 defeat at Liverpool, says Robbie Savage

The 19-year-old put in some heavy tackles and was booked for a late challenge on Naby Keita, which Neville admitted made him ‘proud’.

But Savage believes the praise Mejbri has received for his lively performance off the bench speaks volumes about the current state of United, insisting he could have been sent off on another day.’ 

He wrote in his column for The Mirror: ‘Has it really come to this at Manchester United – where we are supposed to celebrate a 19-year-old kid’s excitable cameo in a 4-0 defeat at Liverpool?

‘New manager Erik ten Hag will take over this summer with the bar at the lowest level I can remember at Old Trafford. I have been watching United at every level for 30 years – as a YTS, father or opposition player – and I have never felt more saddened by them. In a derisory performance at Anfield, at least Hannibal Mejbri made his presence felt, crashing into Jordan Henderson and Andrew Robertson where more celebrated players offered little resistance.

Mejbri came off the bench and was booked for making some heavy challenges at Anfield

Neville admitted after United’s defeat that the teenager’s performance made him ‘proud’

‘And I can understand Gary Neville saying afterwards : “He reminded me of Nobby Stiles, of Eric Harrison and the basic principles of being a football player: Compete, win your duels, fight for every ball. There’s only one kid who came on and demonstrated that he had the heart and the soul to play for Manchester United Football Club – him.”

‘But I would disagree with Gary. Yes, it’s good to see a young player being given a chance and trying to make his mark, but on another night Hannibal could have been sent off, which wouldn’t have solved anything. As far as I’m concerned, United are back where they were at Oxford United in 1986, Sir Alex Ferguson’s first game in charge.

‘The whole culture of the club has to change and needs a complete reset, to the values instilled by Fergie 36 years ago. Is the team more important than individuals playing to their own agenda? Sir Alex knew the answer.’

In the wake of their four-goal humbling on Merseyside, United took the next step towards their rebuilding job at Old Trafford by confirming Erik ten Hag as their new head coach.

But Savage doesn’t think Mejbri should be praised, insisting he could have been sent off

Ten Hag will take the reins when Ralf Rangnick’s interim role comes to an end this summer, and he has a huge job on his hands given the club’s struggles in 2021/22.

Savage added: ‘Ten Hag must be given a minimum three years to implement his own culture, his own identity and his own philosophy because, as a institution, Manchester United is broken. People have been getting rewarded for poor attitude, lack of discipline and selfishness. 

‘I’ve never seen a United team where there is so much finger-pointing, arm-waving, going through the motions and flouncing when things go wrong. At every successful club, you train as you play. Judging by the weak, soulless surrender at Anfield, and at Everton the week before, I must ask whether the intensity of training is right.’

He has also urged United to give new boss Erik ten Hag three years to implement a culture




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