Manchester United Champions League hopes are over says Gary Neville
A lacklustre Manchester United needed a goal by midfielder Fred to salvage an unconvincing 1-1 Premier League draw with Leicester City at Old Trafford; Gary Neville: “It’s going to be difficult in their remaining eight matches if they continue in that vein of form. It was so flat”.
Gary Neville believes Manchester United’s tepid draw with Leicester signalled an end to their flickering hopes of qualifying for next season’s Champions League.
Neville – in the commentary box for a 1-1 draw which kept United in sixth – says his old club would like to get to the end of the season as swiftly as possible but their forthcoming fixtures mean they will not be able to go “under the radar” – with games against Everton, Liverpool and Chelsea ensuring there is no hiding place for Ralf Rangnick’s beleaguered side.
Kelechi Iheanacho put the visitors ahead on the day, nodding an inch-perfect James Maddison cross past David de Gea after Fred was dispossessed on a United counter-attack.
Fred levelled three minutes later after Leicester failed to clear the ball, Bruno Fernandes shooting from the edge of the box and the Brazilian directing home the rebound after Kasper Schmeichel pushed it out.
Maddison had a late goal ruled out for a foul on Raphael Varane, while on another day Scott McTominay might have seen red rather than yellow for catching the Leicester playmaker with a high lunge.
United struggled for fluency throughout and are now four points behind fourth-places Arsenal having played two games more – and in serious danger of failing to secure a Champions League spot next season.
“Everyone gave everything,” Fernandes told Sky Sports. “I don’t believe there’s anyone who didn’t give everything in the game. Nobody lacked intensity. We have to keep fighting. As I said before, we have to keep looking at our own games.”
United lacked a cutting edge without Cristiano Ronaldo, who missed out because of illness, and a lacklustre performance brought a withering verdict from Neville afterwards.
Asked on Saturday Night Football if United are now out of the running for the top four, he said: “I think so. The run-in started today following the international break. They had to start it with a win but they didn’t get it. It was the way they drew the game – that was really bad out there today.
“Sometimes, teams can look a bit rusty when they come back but I thought the break would work for United as I thought it would be good for players to get away from the club and then come back and give it a right go.
“This is going to be a long two months for those United players and fans. It’s going to be difficult in their remaining eight matches if they continue in that vein of form. It was so flat.”
Substitute Marcus Rashford, who curiously did not start despite Ronaldo being out, had claims for a penalty waved away on an afternoon where Harry Maguire’s every involvement was booed by Leicester fans.
The unavailability of Ronaldo and the injured Edinson Cavani left United without a recognised centre forward so Fernandes, who signed a new contract earlier this week, and the returning Paul Pogba dovetailed higher up the pitch – to little effect early on.
Neville said: “It was really poor out there today and I didn’t have a clear idea of what they were trying to do. I was struggling with it a bit before the game without a centre forward. That’s killed Rashford today, not playing in that team.
“I know he’s struggled for form and for confidence but for Cristiano Ronaldo to pull out this morning and Paul Pogba to go in and for United to change the system of play as opposed to a straight swap surprised me. Too many things surrounding this club at present are uncertain.
“Talks around Harry Maguire, Rashford, Ronaldo, Cavani, the new manager, Rangnick’s future – is he going to be a consultant or is he not? They just need to get to the end of the season but it won’t be easy as they’ve got Everton away, Liverpool away, Chelsea home and Arsenal away.
“It won’t be a case of being able to go under the radar as everyone will be watching. It’s Manchester United. There’s no hiding place and those players are going to have to pick themselves up.”
