MANCHESTER UNITED HAVE not enjoyed a “great season” admits Gary Neville, but they have been “good” and shown further signs of progress.
The Red Devils lifted three trophies during Jose Mourinho’s debut campaign at Old Trafford, with the Community Shield, EFL Cup and Europa League captured.
Returning to Premier League title contention was the target for 2017-18, but arch-rivals Manchester City have established domestic dominance with a league and Carabao Cup double.
United can, however, still wrap up a runner-up finish and FA Cup glory – having booked a final date with Chelsea in that competition – and Neville believes there is cause for optimism.
The Red Devils legend told Sky Sports: “For United, is it a great season? No. But it is a good season because the momentum is still going as they have the opportunity to win the FA Cup and finish second, which would be progression.
“The importance of getting another medal round the necks of the players should not be underestimated in terms of keeping building and challenging Manchester City next season.”
Mourinho will be expected to close the gap on City in 2018-19, but that will be no easy task.
The Portuguese has already admitted as much, with Pep Guardiola expected to be as busy in the summer transfer market as the rest of his Premier League rivals.
“Can we improve next season? Let’s try,” Mourinho said after guiding United to the FA Cup final with a 2-1 victory over Tottenham on Saturday.
“Whether Manchester City keep this level or improve this level, only they can say. But if they’re going to invest on top of the team they already have, it will be difficult for all of us.
“In this moment, I don’t even think about next season, or the cup final, I think about our next game, Arsenal, because we need one point to finish in the top four and we need seven to finish second. And we deserve to finish second. We have to finish second.”
UTD and City are head and shoulders above Liverpool, Spurs, Chelsea and Arsenal.
It’s a northern thing.
Manchester – the Home of Football.
@Gene Dexter: Has Liverpool moved south?
@Brendan O’Brien: he failed geography
@Gene Dexter: city are way ahead of everybody else. Spurs and Liverpool are only a couple of points behind United
Truth is pep absolutely embarrassed Jose this season and there’s no getting away from it. 16 points behind says it all.
@Gary O’Hanlon: think pep embarressed all managers in the league not only jose
A distant second to City, out of the champions league in round 2, beaten by Bristol city, the biggest wage bill in the division, a spend of over 300 million in two seasons.
Progress, United style.
At least Gary Neville still has a winning mentality. Sometimes it feels like Jose is just happy to do what they are doing and keep hinting about getting more transfer funds. You don’t actually need to spend billions to win the league. Just a squad of talented footballers, good team spirit and a desire to win. This season you just needed to spend €221m and the rest of the top 6 being rubbish…
It’s been United’s best season in the league since Ferguson left
Burnley had a good season with a pittance of a wage structure compared to Man Utd , that’s what a GOOD season actually is ??