Gary Neville has explained why Erik ten Hag’s Manchester United job has become more difficult as the summer has progressed ahead of their Premier League opener against Brighton & Hove Albion.
Neville has always been a very outspoken character, never afraid to voice his opinion on matters involving Manchester United.
United’s summer window has not quite gone to plan so far, with Ten Hag’s key target Frenkie de Jong reluctant to join the club for a number of reasons.
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Speaking after Arsenal’s 2-0 victory against Crystal Palace on Friday during the opening day of the Premier League season, Gary Neville has labeled securing a Champions League spot this season as an “outstanding performance.”
When quizzed on what would make a successful season for Erik ten Hag, Neville replied: “I think it would be to grab that fourth place.
“I think if he got in fourth place from where I sit here today, now, I would say that’s an outstanding performance – I really would.”
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Neville further expands on this, describing how United’s lack of transfer business compared to other clubs has hampered their season’s targets.
“With the business that they haven’t done, I would say actually that I wouldn’t expect him to get fourth place,” he declared.
“I think to be fair that Chelsea have been doing more business, signed another player today [Friday], Arsenal have done good business, Tottenham have done good business, City and Liverpool have improved.”
When predicting where the Red Devils will finish this season, the former Manchester United captain was resigned to saying United will finish the season poorly.
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“If you said to me honestly with my head, I’d say probably sixth at this moment in time.
“If you shifted them up to fifth or fourth I’d say that’s a good performance – but if they get de jong in, if they get someone else in, then obviously that bar comes sort of higher.”
He goes on to explain that despite this, Erik ten Hag is not under pressure this season.
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“The reason he is not under pressure is because… well the Ronaldo situation is distracting; you saw him in the press conference today having to answer questions about it.
“The fact that Martial is injured and he's the only other centre forward and he was actually going to leave the club six months ago, the fact they haven't got De Jong in yet, the fact that basically (he) hasn’t been supported in the way the other managers have and getting the signings in early, all means that it’s a more difficult job for Ten Hag than it already was.”
Manchester United face Brighton during the opening weekend of the Premier League season on Sunday, with Erik ten Hag set to make his competitive debut at Old Trafford.
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Ten Hag has also hinted that new signings Christian Eriksen and Lisandro Martinez could make their debuts, as they are now fit enough to start the fixture should they be chosen to play.
Topics: Manchester United, Gary Neville, Erik Ten Hag, Cristiano Ronaldo, Anthony Martial, Frenkie De Jong, Lisandro Martinez, Christian Eriksen
Dylan Penketh