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Manchester United made some ground on their rivals at the weekend as they beat Brentford with two stoppage-time goals from Scott McTominay, but Gary Neville doesn’t think his former side have enough to finish inside the top five. Erik ten Hag’s side had lost back-to-back games against Crystal Palace and Galatasaray heading into the match against Brentford and a third consecutive defeat looked on the cards when Mathias Jensen scored the opener.<\/p>\n
But McTominay proved the hero on the day for United as he singlehandedly won the game for Ten Hag’s side in dramatic fashion. United sit 10th in the table, but closed the gap on Liverpool and Manchester City who both dropped points.<\/p>\n
Neville had tipped his former club for another top-four finish prior to the season starting with Ten Hag expected to kick on in his second season in charge. But, despite the win over Brentford, Neville has changed his mind on where United will finish at the end of the campaign, suggesting Europa League qualification may even be a struggle.<\/p>\n
“At the moment I’m saying no on Manchester United, but they proved me wrong last season after having a very poor start,” he told Sky Sports. Neville went on to explain how “huge” the win could be for United, in particular McTominay who has struggled for minutes under Ten Hag.<\/p>\n
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He added: “Especially after such a depressing start to the season and by no stretch of the imagination does beating Brentford at home with two goals in the 93rd and 97th minute mean that everything is OK. Far from it, it’s a mess. But I was happy for Scott McTominay. The stuff I’ve seen on social media over the last few weeks, that’s when it’s the classic a club is falling apart when you start to have the fanbase and media people questioning the work ethic of a kid who’s come through the academy since the age of seven or eight.<\/p>\n
“I’m sorry, I’m not having that. That’s one kid who will run through a brick wall for the club. That’s the weight on his shoulders and the pressure and feeling of not having the support in the club to be able to weigh your legs down. I’ve talked about heavy legs in a young player. I’ve talked about it last season with Arsenal going on a title run and we saw it.<\/p>\n
“What we’ve seen of Scott McTominay these past few weeks is him being outstanding for Scotland and then he comes back to playing right of a diamond against Brighton and he looks like his legs have gone. All of a sudden you see clips on social media with people saying, ‘look at Scott McTominay not running back’.<\/p>\n
Don’t miss… <\/strong> We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info<\/p>\n “I wouldn’t look at that as anything other than pressure and carrying the world on his shoulders from being a Manchester United kid from the age of five.” Neville went on to explain that Ten Hag needs Andre Onana to step it up in goal before the club can start thinking of another top-four finish.<\/p>\n He said: “I don’t think Manchester United will finish inside the top five this season, I just don’t. I think they’re way off it and I’m surprised because seven or eight weeks ago I had them third again.<\/p>\n “I don’t think the goalkeeper has settled in quickly – I think he should have saved the one yesterday – I think that’s a problem. If you’re goalkeeper’s not settled in and there’s a bit of instability around that, it does create a big problem.”<\/p>\n
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