Gary Neville has pulled out of his role as a pundit on Sky Sports’ Monday Night Football show, just hours after Manchester United’s humiliating 6-1 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur.
The former United defender and Sky Sports pundit was due to appear alongside Jamie Carragher on the show, but has now decided to take a break from the show.
Carragher, who is also a former Liverpool defender, took to Twitter to confirm the news, writing: “Gary Neville has pulled out of Monday Night Football tonight. He’s had a difficult weekend and needs some time away from the spotlight. We wish him all the best.”
The news comes after United’s worst defeat in the Premier League since 2011, when they were beaten 6-1 by Manchester City.
The result has led to increased scrutiny of manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, with some fans calling for his sacking.
Neville, who is a United fan, has been a vocal critic of the club’s performances in recent weeks and was particularly critical of the team’s performance against Spurs.
He said on Sky Sports: “It’s a shambles. It’s embarrassing. It’s a disgrace. It’s a humiliation. It’s a humiliation for Manchester United. It’s a humiliation for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. It’s a humiliation for the players. It’s a humiliation for the club.”
The former United defender has been a regular on Sky Sports’ Monday Night Football show since 2011, and his absence will be a big loss for the show.
Carragher, who is also a regular on the show, will now be joined by former Arsenal defender Martin Keown.
The news of Neville’s absence has been met with sympathy from fans, with many taking to social media to wish him well.
It is unclear when Neville will return to the show, but it is likely that he will take some time away from the spotlight before making his return.
In the meantime, fans will be hoping that United can turn their fortunes around and put the humiliation of the Spurs defeat behind them.