Danny Mills accidentally calls Manchester United ‘S***’ live on Sky Sports News

Danny Mills has delivered one of the all-time great sporting TV gaffes, offering his unfiltered verdict on Manchester United‘s woes when he thought the cameras had stopped rolling. 

The former Manchester City and Leeds player quipped: ‘Basically, United are s***!’, when presenter Peter Graves indicated Sky Sports’ coverage was paused for an advert break. 

Sinking back in his chair, Graves, who had been discussing with Mills and Sol Bamba United’s ongoing issues and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer‘s precarious position as manager, said: ‘Great chat lads, well done, that was really interesting.  

Sol Bamba (left) and Danny Mills (right) were discussing Manchester United’s woes with presenter Peter Graves (centre) when Mills made a flippant comment thinking he was off air

Cristiano Ronaldo, Bruno Fernandes and Co were battered by fierce rivals Liverpool on Sunday

Mills was appearing on the broadcast along with Bamba and both men were pictured either side of Graves on video link. 

With his head down and earphones in, Mills responded to the presenter’s congratulations for the interesting conversation with his simple assessment that United ‘are s***’.

Both Bamba and Graves laughed at the comment and then Mills shrugged his shoulders, saying: ‘But they are.’ 

Fast-thinking viewers watching from home took to social media with a recording of the clip. 

Mills had been giving his educated verdict on United before offering a more succinct appraisal

Mills is a former England defender – he is pictured playing here in the 2002 World Cup

One wrote: ‘Just watching The Football Show on Sky Sports, wasn’t expecting a simple, honest appraisal of Man United from Danny Mills.’ 

United have been the talk of football since their 5-0 demolition at the hands of fierce rivals Liverpool at Old Trafford. 

Many have been calling for Solskjaer to be sacked, but the manager is going to be given a chance to turn things around.

Mills and Bamba had been reflecting eloquently on the situation at the club before what they, and Graves, thought was a break in the live coverage. 

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s (left) job is hanging in the balance after a calamitous afternoon; Liverpool  put five past David de Gea (right) to outline the gap in class between the sides

The contrast in Mills’ succinct verdict when he thought he was able to speak freely made the howler even more entertaining. 

It seems the error came on the Sky Sports Premier League channel where coverage had continued, while on Sky Sports News the advert break was in progress. 

The broadcaster issued an apology upon returning from the adverts.

Solskjaer is under massive pressure to beat Tottenham on Saturday but has the backing of Ed Woodward and Richard Arnold for now. 

He was even given a morale-boosting training ground visit by his former mentor Sir Alex Ferguson but will be under no illusions that drastically improved performances are needed.  

Mauricio Pochettino is reportedly still the preferred option to come in if the club decide to sack Solskjaer, but he is under contract at PSG. 

Paul Pogba was sent off just minutes after coming on against Liverpool in the 5-0 defeat

Antonio Conte is also a high-quality option and has the benefit of being unattached at the moment. 

Solskjaer could also have dressing room fires to extinguish with Paul Pogba, who was sent off just minutes after coming on against Liverpool, understood to have apologised to team-mates but not his boss. 

Pogba later described those claims as ‘big lies to make headlines’.