MANCHESTER UNITED NEED to accept that there is “an absolute gulf” between themselves and arch-rivals Manchester City, says Gary Neville, with a top-four battle now their greatest concern.
The Red Devils made the short trip to the Etihad Stadium on Sunday buoyed by a run of three successive victories, with battling qualities on display against Everton, Bournemouth and Juventus.
They were, however, to take on their arch-rivals without Paul Pogba available to them through injury and with Alexis Sanchez and Romelu Lukaku only handed places on the bench.
Anthony Martial was able to maintain his scoring run on derby day, but United slipped to a 3-1 defeat on the road and now sit eighth in the Premier League table, 12 points behind City and seven adrift of the Champions League spots.
Former United star Neville told Sky Sports of the current situation and challenges: “It’s sobering to say but we shouldn’t compare Manchester United with Manchester City in terms of watching them at this moment in time.
“There is an absolute gulf between the two teams in terms of performance levels. Twelve points is about right at this moment in time, after 12 games.
United’s biggest problem isn’t Manchester City, it’s how they get closer to the rest of the top four and get into that race. City, at this moment in time, are a different level all over the pitch.”
United fell behind inside 12 minutes against City, as David Silva broke the deadlock, with Sergio Aguero and Ilkay Gundogan also netting for the Blues.
Neville admits that Pogba proved to be a big miss for Mourinho, with the World Cup winner required in the biggest games to provide leadership and inspiration to those around him.
“I feared the worst when they arrived here and I was told he hadn’t travelled to the team hotel,” added the ex-England international.
“This Manchester United team play in moments in big games. He delivers in moments.
“He can give the ball away but he’s the one player that has the arrogance to think he can play in any stadium in the world, on any pitch in the world in front of any player in the world and take them on.
He believes in himself. It’s a great quality and shouldn’t be underestimated. To carry that through the scrutiny he has, the price tag, he still carries that weight in the Manchester United team and they look to him.
“He’s the one player who can transfer the ball from back to front, in terms of he can carry the ball. He can play a pass – he’s got United’s most assists this season, he’s got three goals. They look to him and he’s had a relationship with Martial over the last few weeks.
“I thought Manchester United were in deep trouble when he hadn’t travelled. I was thinking a midfield of [Nemanja] Matic, [Marouane] Fellaini and [Ander] Herrera, how are they going to get the ball through midfield? It was never going to happen without him.”
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You could sign Ronaldo, Messi, Ramos, and Neymar and Mbapee and United would still be sat mid table. As long as they have a manager who refuses to play football and who also sets up teams to draw matche or grab a one nil win, United will not go anywhere. They have a serious squad of talent if used the right way. Sanchez, Pogba and Fred have not become bad players
@Philip Morgan: Draconian football. Game has moved on since his unreal achievement at Inter. Klopp and Pep have moved with it. José won’t. How a team with Martial Mata Fred Pogba Matic De Gea Valencia Rashford Sanchez Lukaku etc are where they are is not baffling. It’s obvious. It’s José. Simple as that. Imagine how someone like Eddie Howe would have that team playing.
@Mike Lyn: Eddie Howe, now there’s a name I never thought of. Young manager with lots of experience, and plays quality football. Always sets up his teams positively and players play for him.
@Conor M: Bang on. Perfect fit only for, would he be given time frame ,and capable of managing big egos. He is a class act. Conducts himself impeccably all the time, win lose or draw.
The same could be said about Fabinho at Liverpool. He has looked very average in the handful of games he has played in and you don’t hear anyone giving out about Klopp over it.
Most players need time to settle in. Next season we will see how good Fred is, that’s if he is still there.
@Maureen: Of course he will be there unless you’re going to buy him are you ?
@Mike Lyn: Well the likes of Falcao and Di Maria didn’t last long at United. It wouldnt be much of a surprise if he was flogged off at the end of the season if his form doesn’t improve soon. It seems to be the United way lately both on and off the field!
@Maureen: ah will he go on off with yourself using rational arguments this is a United article
I imagine the chasm between the Ukranian league and the Premier league is significant never mind coming into a team that is out of sorts. In my eyes it is harsh to judge him until next season. If United were playing well judgements might be made sooner. He’s also suffering from the fact he was the only big signing United made this window and everybody including his manager keeps going on about what a disappointing window it has been.
We’ll learn a lot from Mourinho if he throws Lukaku back in on a regular basis when he’s fit. It’s then when we know if he knows what he’s doing. Fred is nowhere near worth 50m but he’s not had the chance. I’m personally not expecting a lot from him. This lad could easily be another Djemba Djemba.
@Simon Doherty: for you a pool jersey for Xmas kid.
@Shane Doherty: Thanks Dad.
@Simon Doherty: what’s wrong with that
Ya tosspot
There’s a number of things you can blame Mourinho for at Utd; his inability to play attacking football, his inability to get the best out of Lukaku, Pogba and Sanchez, making Ashley Young captain, his ongoing moaning about not being able to sign more players despite spending a fortune, but you can’t complain about a new signing being integrated into a team that’s struggling!
Waste of money.
Gary good player respect you as a player but as a man united fan his opinions are just wrong