Gary Neville gives honest Erik ten Hag sack verdict amid Manchester United prediction

Gary Neville has called this - the day Erik ten Hag has been sacked - as a 'really bad day' for Manchester United, although he says nobody can be 'truly shocked' with this key decision.

With United lodged 14th in the Premier League table after nine games, holding 11 points with a goal difference of minus three, the board have confirmed their decision to relieve Ten Hag of his duties after two-and-a-half years in charge. The Dutchman departs having won the domestic cup competitions once each, but hasn't truly been able to take the club forward in either the Premier League or in Europe.

The straw that broke the camel's back turned out to be a 2-1 defeat away to West Ham United - their fourth in the English top-flight already this season. Albeit under controversial circumstances, it leaves the club now seven points adrift of the top four.

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"A really bad day for Manchester United, but obviously a bad one for Ten Hag," former captain Neville responded on Sky Sports, adding: "Yesterday the first half, missing chances, it was unacceptable, there was three or four times United could have scored and they should have been 2-0 up at half-time.

"The decision at the end was obviously a bad one but overall I just think the challenge is the results and performance levels, and the owners have decided to sack Erik ten Hag. I don't think anybody will be truly shocked after what happened yesterday."

Neville was then asked whether this decision came too late, and if the board should have gone through with finding a new manager in place of Ten Hag during the summer.