Nemanja Vidic warns Manchester United players they should be 'scared'

Nemanja Vidic has told Manchester United’s current crop of players they should be playing as if they’re “scared” for their futures.

United's dismal season hit another new low on Saturday as they fell to a 1-0 defeat at relegation-threatened Everton. The loss all-but ends hopes of finishing in the top four this season, with Tottenham now sitting six points ahead of them with just seven games to go.

United’s players have come in for heavy criticism following their latest disappointing showing. Despite falling behind midway through the first half on Merseyside, Ralf Rangnick's side offered very little in return and never looked likely to work their way back into the game.

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Fans have questioned the players’ attitudes as they approach the end of what has been a dire season at Old Trafford. With a number of the current squad looking likely to leave in the summer, and a new manager on the way, some supporters have called for the club’s young players to be given their opportunity instead.

Speaking to The Athletic, United great Vidic urged the club’s current squad to improve on their recent showings. And the former defender had a clear message for any players throwing the towel in early.

“I came to United as a mature person,” Vidic said. “I’d done my discos in Serbia and Moscow. At the biggest club in the world, it was important not to spend time on the stupid things. I wanted to show the whole world how good I was in the most important years in my career and I was lucky to play eight years for Man United.

“My point is that we all had the same target then. We were there to play for the biggest club in the world and we knew what the aim was — to win the