In a recent media interview, Manchester United star Gary Neville shared a principle that he has held fast to for many years as a soccer pundit - and that is that he has never, and will never, call for the dismissal of any manager. This principle not only reflects his respect for professional soccer, but also demonstrates his unique personal stance and attitude in the punditry world.
Neville recalled the managerial days of former Manchester United manager Solskjaer and confessed that although Solskjaer may have appeared tough to them, the pundits and fans, in terms of team management and tactical set-ups, he always maintained his respect for the manager. When fans began to abuse Solskjaer for his team's poor performances, Neville made it clear that while he may have been unhappy with Solskjaer's performances, he would never join in with the abuse.
Neville explained that he can understand and accept that the manager is under a lot of pressure, especially when the team is not performing well. He may point out the dilemmas faced by the manager and the problems of the team, but he would never go further than calling for the manager to lose his job or be sacked. In his opinion, this is the bottom line and principle that he should stick to as a commentator.
He further revealed that this principle was actually established when he first started working as a commentator. About 13 years ago, when he stepped into this brand new field, he made a promise to himself that he would not call for the dismissal of any manager, no matter what the future holds. This promise has stayed with him throughout his punditry career and has become one of his unique trademarks.
