Gary Neville admits ‘I got it wrong’ and apologises over Rashford criticism

MANCHESTER UNITED icon Gary Neville has apologised for his criticism of Marcus Rashford and Casemiro in the wake of their trip to the USA last week.

The duo spent the international break in the States after missing out on a call-up to their respective national teams.

Rashford was pictured watching Friday's NBA clash between the New York Knicks and Brooklyn Nets at Madison Square Garden.

Meanwhile, Casemiro flew to Orlando to enjoy a family holiday at Disney World and a Magic game at Kia Center.

However, both players received backlash with ex-United defender Neville leading the criticism.

Speaking on the Stick to Football podcast, the pundit explained: "The professionalism, looking after your body and making sure you’re best prepared for the next training session is critical to every decision you make during the season.

"He has got a mental break, he’s got to get away and has got to rest with friends - then you talk about the choice of venue, how far do you fly, what’s the time difference, is that going to give a jet lag issue, is that going to give a stiffness issue from being on a flight for 12 hours?

"This is on Casemiro more than Rashford but if I’m 30 years old and I’m looking after my body – and he’s won five Champions Leagues and is an unbelievable player, but if he was away with Brazil for 10 days, we would say he would struggle this weekend because he’s been away.

"They have chosen that international break. If you are talking about the minor details in being as professional as you can be and as prepared you can be for a training session on a Monday night, that isn’t the best choice of venue."

But in a recent interview with new Man Utd boss Ruben Amorim for Sky Sports, he partially took back some of his criticism.

Neville said: "I made a comment this week about Casemiro and Marcus Rashford travelling to America in their few days off.

"It was just me thinking as a Manchester United player when I played here. 

"You've got a few days off, the club are 13th in the league, the manager has just been sacked, it's a challenging part of the season and the new manager is about to come in.

"And that focus and preparation and every single little detail is really important, and I said I don't think I'd have chosen that trip to go to America with the time difference. I did get it wrong - they went to New York rather than Portland so I apologise for that. 

"But there's still a 5-6 hour time difference, they're on planes, Casemiro's 30 years of age."

Amorim insisted it was not his decision to let the duo travel during the break.

He even went as far as to suggest he would have banned them from flying.

Amorim explained: "I think the main question here is that us, as a club, have to set the standards and have to manage that.

"It is my decision if they can have five days [off], three days or three days to rest, you cannot fly.

"This is something that us, as a club, have to decide. For me? Yes for sure [he would have banned them].

"We cannot put this on the players. They [United] told them they can have five days off so they can fly anywhere because nobody at the club says you cannot fly."

Amorim's reign at Man Utd will officially begin this weekend when the Red Devils face Ipswich at Portman Road.

The ex-Sporting Lisbon manager is determined to change things at Old Trafford, with United currently 13th in the Premier League table.

He said: "Call me naive. But I truly believe I am the right guy in the right moment.

"I could be wrong but the world still will turn [and] the sun will rise again, I don’t worry about that.

"I truly believe I’m the right guy for this job.

"In two years you will understand if I am the right man to be in this process.

"In two years you can understand if you want to continue on this path or you want to change.

"I know if you are at Manchester United you have to win games, so I will not tell you I need a lot of time."