‘Have a look at yourself’ - Ally McCoist slams Man Utd players in post-match Newcastle assessment

Ally McCoist has slated Manchester United’s players after Saturday’s Premier League loss to Newcastle United, and said they need to ‘have a look’ at themselves.

The Red Devils put in another lifeless showing at St James’ Park, with Antony Gordon’s second-half strike wrapping up three points for the Magpies. But it could, and should, have been more had Newcastle converted more of their 22 shots.

United offered little opposition, with Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial - who were replaced around the hour mark - singled out for criticism. Speaking after the game, Erik ten Hag claimed his side are ‘resilient’, but that’s not a view shared by McCoist, who questioned the commitment of the United squad.

“He [Ten Hag] is trying to find positives and yes, they stayed in the game at half-time, yes they had a goal disallowed,” said the ex-Scotland striker, on TNT Sports. “He’s an intelligent man, he knows he’s got a problem if he gets that kind of performance from Manchester United again. That was miles off it, absolutely miles off it.

“Newcastle were excellent and deserved to win by a lot more. The disappointing thing from my point of view watching Manchester United, apart from the two centre-backs, I don’t think you can’t give pass marks to anybody really. 

“It’s a horrible thing to level at a professional footballer, when you’re questioning commitment and a desire to run about, but that’s the question you’ve got to ask of some of the Manchester United players this evening I’m afraid.”

It’s not the first time the desire of United’s players has been questioned, and Roy Keane has previously claimed the team will throw their manager ‘under the bus’. It’s a trait that infuriates McCoist, and he claimed that players should give their all, regardless of who’s in the dugout.

“Are they playing for him? I really dislike that because it’s got nothing to do with the manager,” he said. “When you go over that white line, you're playing for yourself, and the 5,000 supporters that have travelled. It’s nothing to do with the manager.

“You’ve got to have a look at yourself. The manager picks the side. I’ve played for plenty of managers and coaches that I didn’t get on very well with and they make decisions you don’t agree with.

“But at the end of the day, when you go out on that pitch you are representing yourself and the travelling supporters and the millions around the world. That’s who you play for and you have to do it in a manner that we didn’t see tonight.”