KNIVES OUT

Last updated : 13 November 2002 By newshound

"Sir Alex is not getting it right in team selection or tactics," said the former centre-forward.
"He has a lot to answer for, as have the players, because in five years of watching Manchester United I don't think I have ever seen a performance as bad as that.

"The City fans will really have been sticking the knife in and I don't think it will hurt the players as much as the supporters."

Pearson also believes that a number of United's foreign stars 'went missing' at Maine Road, and added: "Maybe the foreigners in the team don't understand the Manchester passion.

"There are some big-game players who are just not performing for one reason or another."

"They will get it right eventually but if they leave it too long they will miss out on the title.
"United have to go on a run of eight, nine or 10 successive wins and that is very difficult. At the moment, they are struggling," Pearson told MUTV.