Manchester United news: Gary Neville says ‘people have to start liking the team again’
The former United right-back thinks that immediate results may not necessarily be the most crucial thing to their development
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Gary Neville has tempered expectations on Manchester United this season, and claimed that having a long-term direction for the team is more important than immediate results.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side secured their second Premier League win of the season against Leicester on Saturday, but have already dropped points to Wolves, Crystal Palace and Southampton.
Neville thinks that getting supporters to like the team again could be more important to United’s progress than pure success.
“I think being on the right track this season is more important than fifth, fourth or third,” he asserted on Sky Sports’ Monday Night Football. “People have to start liking the team again.”
United have come under fire for allowing established first team players Ander Herrera and Romelu Lukaku to leave without signing any replacements in their positions, but Neville has defended their transfer approach.
“There’s a sense that they have gone backwards and only invested £60m to £70m net. From that point of view, there’s a feeling that they should have bought another centre forward and another central midfielder because the midfield is weak.
“I applaud what Manchester United have done this summer in a way because they have made big mistakes,” he continued. “I have been critical of them in the transfer window, paying over the top for ageing players, they’ve reacted to other teams looking like their signing players and panic bought.
“What I’m saying is they’ve changed direction. Whether you like it or I like, it’s a change of direction. In Daniel James, Harry Maguire and Aaron Wan-Bissaka, they’ve got younger players who have hopefully got a future at Manchester United for the next 10 years. The three of them have started well.”
Neville also admitted that United are potentially in a poorer state this season than they were last, but that such a scenario is necessary in order to get the club back to the top.
“I actually think United have taken a step backwards but a step in the right direction to go forwards because enough is enough of all these 30-year-old players coming in, not suiting the style. They’ve got to stop that because it’s not worked for the club.”
United have not won the league since Sir Alex Ferguson left in 2013, and have only finished in the top four twice in the six seasons since his departure.
Yet Neville was keen to highlight the need for a transition period before United can compete for the Premier League title again.
“Of course, Man United have to win the Premier League title. That has to be the barometer and should never change, but you can’t go from not liking the team with average football to winning the league. There’s a step in the middle of getting better football, liking the team and them you can start moving up.
“There have been clear examples,” he added. “Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool, he achieved Champions League success after four years without a trophy, but everyone at the club could see that he was on the right track.
“Frank [Lampard] and Ole [Gunnar Solskjaer] have to convince their board and fans that they are on the right track.”
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