Manchester United legend Paul Parker has called on the club’s current players to stand up and prove they are worthy of playing for the Old Trafford outfit.

United were humiliated last weekend by Liverpool in a resounding 5-0 loss that saw Ole Gunnar Solskjaer on the brink of the sack.

But Solskjaer has earned a stay of execution – and, while it is likely to be a delay tactic by the board as they arrange a succession plan, it has shifted the spotlight back on to the players ahead of tomorrow’s visit to Tottenham.

After all, it’s not the first time United have been in a similar position after a capitulation, and while Solskjaer is preparing for the reality of the consequences that come with that, too many players have escaped with their reputations unscathed – but Parker believes they now have to stand up and prove that they are worthy of their own place at the club at Tottenham tomorrow.

“This game generally is deemed a big fixture,” Parker said exclusively on this week’s Talking Devils podcast. At this moment in time the game seems a bit of a damp squib, it’s about the fall of two giants and there are questions asked about individuals.”

“Spurs are probably thinking they can get something out of United when they’re at their lowest ebb. It will be a full stadium, United will take their full allocation like they do for every away game, but it’s about the players now. It is a fact.”

“It’s how many of them really want to play for Manchester United. It’s all well and good saying it because it’s a good club to be at and your popularity goes up. It doesn’t mean you’re a good player – it just means more people know who you are. You have to prove that you want to be there. They like what goes with it but they don’t want to work hard for it.”
Parker voiced his frustration at the tendency of players to issue statements on social media – and has urged them to do their talking on the pitch.

“How many of them were hiding behind the curtains or blinds?” he said. “There were certain games you would lose and you wouldn’t want to go out. You didn’t want to rub it in people’s faces, you didn’t want to smile if anyone saw it and read it the wrong way. Football is life when you move to Manchester. Sometimes you’re better saying nothing and going and giving everything for ninety minutes, give everything for the fans and for the player next to them as well.”