It’s possible that Gary Neville is regretting what he said about a few Manchester United players.
Gary Neville was very optimistic about Manchester United’s midfield this year. (Image: The Overlap.
Legendary Manchester United player Gary Neville has come under fire after remarks he made at the start of the season about Erik ten Hag’s midfield options at Liverpool surfaced. Despite Neville’s initial optimism, the Red Devils’ midfield has been under constant criticism this season, most recently in the 4-0 humiliation by Crystal Palace.
For United’s midfield, Kobbie Mainoo’s breakout season has been one of the few bright spots in a dismal campaign. Jamie Carragher thrashed Casemiro for his performance at Selhurst Park, and he was informed that he would only be playing a few games at the highest level before heading to the Major League Soccer or Saudi Arabia.
While Ten Hag’s acquisitions of Mason Mount and Sofyan Amrabat for the midfield have not been able to have a major impact, Scott McTominay and Bruno Fernandes have shown promise in spurts. But Neville believed going into the season that even Jurgen Klopp, the manager of Liverpool, would be open to switching around their respective midfields.
Neville said to The Overlap in August, “When you looked at Liverpool’s signings for £30 million, £40 million a few years ago, those players ended up being some of the best in the world.” “When you examine the players themselves, United is a good example. Fernandes, Mount, Casemiro, and (Christian) Eriksen are the ones you have. Jurgen Klopp would probably switch his midfield for United’s right now.
“I believe that in order for the midfield to perform better, he is now required to overcoach them. Prior to signing these players, they turned out to be exceptionally gifted and elite athletes.
“We know these guys he has now are talented players, but Liverpool isn’t the same as it was four or five years ago. Thus, regrettably, he must now go get one off the top shelf.”
The likes of Alexis Mac Allister, Wataru Endo, Dominik Szoboszlai, Harvey Elliott, Ryan Gravenberch, and Curtis Jones have helped the Reds to a third-place Premier League finish since Neville’s audacious claim regarding Fernandes, Mount, Casemiro, and Eriksen. United is trailing the Reds by 24 points.
Since then, Neville’s remarks have been revisited in light of Carragher’s reposting of a video in which his Sky Sports colleague brags about the caliber of Ten Hag’s roster.
Nine months after Neville’s recommendation, United is in disarray and their midfield isn’t able to get them out of it. Ten Hag recently expressed regret over missing out on signing Frenkie de Jong in the summer, as he would have significantly improved their options. The notion that United’s midfield options are superior to Liverpool’s is another thing that has left Neville looking foolish.
