Who Kenny McLean has blamed for Norwich City situation - It's not Liam Manning or Ben Knapper | OneFootball

Norwich City captain Kenny McLean has revealed who is to blame for the Canaries' current situation - and it's not Liam Manning or Ben Knapper

Norwich City's woes were compounded with a 1-0 defeat away to fellow strugglers Derby County on Tuesday evening, a result which has plunged under-fire manager Liam Manning and his side into the Championship relegation zone after eleven matches.

The Canaries finished the previous campaign in mid-table after dismissing Johannes Hoff Thorup amid a failed push for the play-offs, and lost key assets such as Marcelino Nunez and Borja Sainz in what proved a mixed summer at Carrow Road.

The appointment of Liam Manning, however, who signed the likes of Harry Darling, Pape Diallo, Vladan Kovacevic, Mathias Kvistgaarden and Pelle Mattson, kept optimism levels in Norfolk at a fair level heading into the season.

But it has been a disastrous start to the campaign for Norwich, with the Canaries winning just two of their opening eleven encounters. Norwich have lost each of their last four outings, including a 3-1 defeat to bitter rivals Ipswich Town for the first time since 2009, and are winless in seven with five defeats on home soil to speak of, too.

Unsurprisingly, then, questions are being asked beyond the playing squad. Manning is already under significant pressure, and the away end at Pride Park called for the ex-Bristol City boss to be sacked, while sporting director Ben Knapper has also been criticised by supporters for some time now.

However, not everybody believes that the problems lie above.

Kenny McLean blames Norwich City squad for current struggles — Not Liam Manning or Ben Knapper

Although no shortage of Norwich fans would identify Manning and Knapper as key culprits in the club's struggles so far this season following a summer of spending amid top-six ambitions, Canaries captain Kenny McLean believes himself and the players are to blame.

Indeed, the Scotsman, who has made more than 250 appearances for Norwich since his arrival back in 2018, has argued that the players deserve more criticism for the predicament right now. He questioned the lack of "bravery" and "character" from the squad after falling behind to David Ozoh's second-half strike, which has left Manning's side third-from-bottom ahead of Saturday's trip to Swansea City.

Speaking to BBC Radio Norfolk, McLean explained: "The position we are in is completely on us. I feel the fans' frustration, I feel their anger.

"It's their club and we've got the privilege of representing them, representing this football club and right now we're not doing enough and that's why we get the reaction we're getting.

"There's nobody to blame but us. Honestly, I think the players should get more [stick], that's my opinion.

"We keep saying about responsibility and accountability — we're not seeing enough of it. What's a good 45 minutes if you're not getting anything off the back of it?

"The quality [of the squad] maybe should be doubted because it's not coming out enough. We do something brilliant but then the next action, you're scratching your head and that's where we're at.

"You can't play in this league in moments, you need to be taking part in the game at all times and it's not happening enough right now.

"People have a right to doubt that there is [quality] and that's completely on us as players. We put things in place, we analyse, we're given so much information to be as good as we can be when we step on that pitch.

"I wish I had an answer as to why it isn't there all the time, I really do."

Norwich City supporters may like Kenny McLean admission

McLean has questioned the responsibility and accountability of the squad, and for good reason. However, as club captain, he has taken that and has not placed the blame elsewhere.

The veteran midfielder is fully attuned to frustrations from supporters — regarding performances and results, at least — and that may just give fans a flicker of hope that he can help turn around the current situation.

But it's not a one-man show, mind you, and McLean will need his teammates to step up and show similar levels of accountability and honesty if Norwich are to elevate away from the drop zone and towards the top-end of the table.

And while McLean has put blame at the door of the squad, football ultimately remains a results business and, should form fail to pick up, it's hard to see the under-fire Manning keeping his job for too much longer.