Gary Neville claims Manchester United are a better side under Jose Mourinho than they were under Louis van Gaal – despite having fewer points
After 15 Premier League games this season, United have 24 points and are down in sixth place. At the same point last season under LvG they 29 points and were in fourth.
JOSE MOURINHO’S Manchester United is an improvement on Louis van Gaal’s side, according to former captain Gary Neville, despite their poor position.
After 15 Premier League games this season, United have 24 points and are down in sixth place. At the same point last season under LvG they had 29 points and were in fourth.
Despite the drop in points and places, the ex-Valencia manager - who is currently tangled up in a war of words with Liverpool keeper Loris Karius – believes United are a better side now.
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“When you don't win games and you say your team are playing well and it will come, but it doesn't, you can sometimes look a little bit foolish as a coach.
"But I've said it before, I like this team a lot better than the team of last season, even though they might be in a worse points position.
"I like Henrikh Mkhitaryan and I like the way Anthony Martial has played in the last couple of weeks on the left. There's pace back in the team.
"They have a centre-forward that holds the ball up and they have a midfield that is mobile with Carrick as the composure with Ander Herrera and Paul Pogba in front.
"It's a better-balanced team and even though the back four doesn't look great on paper, it's performing really, really well.
“Marcos Rojo and Phil Jones have really been good these last few weeks.
"Jose Mourinho has stumbled on something a little bit with that back four, but in terms of the team I like them a lot more than last season. As a Manchester United fan I like them more."
The former England defender also thinks Juan Mata’s days on the United wing are over as he lacks pace.
The Spaniard’s best chance of making the starting XI is apparently in the No10 role, behind Zlatan Ibrahimovic, but that’s being fiercely contested by club captain Wayne Rooney and in-form summer signing Henrikh Mkhitaryan.
Neville added: “"I would always question whether Juan Mata has got a place in this Manchester United team in a wide area in the way that Manchester United should play.
"They should play with players that are mobile in wide areas, in my opinion.
I think if Juan Mata was going to come back in it would have to be in one of the three midfield positions or as a No 10.
"For me, I don't think it's the end of Juan Mata. I think he's been pretty good this season when he has played and I don't think he had done much wrong.
"To me it looks as better balance [without him]. When you have Zlatan Ibrahimovic up front, you've got a player who is immobile and can't run in behind, but holds the ball up really well.
"That tells you that you have to play with pace either side of him. What worries defences is pace, so from my point of view, the balance is right now."