Nani, the former winger for Manchester United, has expressed his disappointment with the current squad’s lack of “fighting spirit” following their recent heavy defeats.
Over the past week, United suffered two 3-0 home losses. They were eliminated from the League Cup by Newcastle on Wednesday after being thrashed by rivals Manchester City in the Premier League on Sunday.
Sharing his thoughts on his former club’s struggles, Nani stated on a podcast, “When we used to play for Manchester United, one of the defining characteristics of the club was that even if you were losing 3-0 with only 15 or 10 minutes left in the game, you would still witness what mental strength truly meant.”
The 36-year-old Portuguese player went on to add, “It’s no longer just about talent; it’s about pushing the ball into the goal. We did exactly that, we did whatever was necessary.”
During his time at United, where he won 12 trophies, Nani remarked that the current players are “technically gifted” but lack the “spirit of sacrifice and fighting spirit.”
He emphasized, “A true player, a star at Manchester, has the ability to unlock the game; if they don’t, it’s not going to work.”
Nani also defended captain Bruno Fernandes despite criticism, saying, “If Bruno Fernandes wasn’t performing well, I would criticize him too. However, he puts in the sacrifice and effort into the game, and we can see it.”
United currently sits in eighth place in the Premier League and will face Fulham on Saturday.
