“I never would have thought that four or five weeks ago”- Gary Neville changes opinion about Manchester United’s Premier League finish in 2022-23 season
Follow Us
After their tough 1-0 victory over West Ham on Sunday, Gary Neville believes that Manchester United has a “great chance” of finishing inside the top four this season. Marcus Rashford’s spectacular header – his 100th goal for the club – moved the Red Devils up to fifth in the Premier League standings, leaving Erik ten Hag’s team just one point behind Newcastle in fourth.
Even if they have fallen short of expectations in recent years, United are beginning to resemble their former selves under Sir Alex Ferguson, and Gary Neville underlined his confidence about the Manchester club’s progress after the game.
Neville appeared to have changed his mind on the possibility of his former team finishing in the top four after being delighted by the Dutch manager’s additions to the squad earlier in the season. “I think they have a great chance of finishing in the top four now. A great chance,” Neville told Sky Sports, when asked where Man United could finish this season.
“I think there is enough around Chelsea, Liverpool, and Spurs that United will feel they can push through that bunch. I never would have thought that four or five weeks ago.” Back in August, the 47-year-old felt that their current squad depth was not quite up to scratch, saying: “I don’t think United with their current squad will finish fourth, but if they bring De Jong and a striker in it’s a different story.“
Gary Neville believes there is a sense of ‘togetherness’ among current Manchester United players
He reaffirmed it today by saying that while United “still don’t have the finest front three in the league,” they do have a great “team spirit,” thanks to Ten Hag. “Looking at United’s front players at the moment, Liverpool’s front-three, City’s front-three, Chelsea with [Raheem] Sterling and [Pierre-Emerick] Aubameyang, United have the weakest front players at this time. But they have something to be fair that is happening under Ten Hag that is giving them a great spirit.”
Following the game, Louis Saha and Jamie Redknapp, who were also punditry, agreed with Neville that Man United have a very good chance of finishing inside the top four. Saha, who scored 44 goals in 124 games for United, concurred that, provided they keep up their unity and consistency, it “was possible” for United to qualify for the Champions League this year.
ALSO READ: Napoli Director Giuntoli rules off signing Cristiano Ronaldo amidst transfer rumors in January
Stay Updated!
Sujeeth Shetty
(766 Articles Published)