Ex-Manchester United’s player, Gary Neville has backed Manchester United to qualify for next season’s Champions League, insisting he would be surprised if they didn’t finish in the top-four.
Erik ten Hag’s in-form side moved just a point behind second place Manchester City following their 3-0 victory over Bournemouth on Tuesday night.
Goals from Casemiro, Luke Shaw and Marcus Rashford secured a convincing win, and United legend Neville was impressed by what he saw.
When asked if he would be surprised if United didn’t finish inside the top four, Sky Sports pundit Neville said: ‘Yes. But still only 17 games gone, a long way to go – anything can happen.
‘But they look like they have something – a bit of experience in midfield with Christian Eriksen, Casemiro and Fernandes. They look wiser.
‘Rashford is in form – they need a centre forward but they have forwards in form. Defensively not that strong – but they’re doing OK.’
Neville also said that United have ‘bonded together more’ after coming through Cristiano Ronaldo’s acrimonious departure at Old Trafford.
The Portuguese star left the club in November following his explosive interview with Piers Morgan in which he hit out at the club, its owners and manager Ten Hag.
Neville added: ‘I think coming through the situation with Cristiano, coming through the situation with (Harry) Maguire and overcoming the difficult start – they have all bonded together more than what they would have done with an ordinary or normal start. Ten Hag is now in a strong position to call the shots, but they need a striker.’
