Manchester United news: 'We have to accept they are not good enough', says Phil Neville
What's the news?
Former Manchester United defender, Phil Neville believes that his ex-club is not good enough to compete with the European elite.
In case you didn't know...
Manchester United are performing brilliantly ever since the appointment of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer as their caretaker manager in December and forced their way back into the Premier League's 'top-four'.
However, they struggled against Paris St. Germain in the Champions League last night and tasted the first defeat of the Norweigian's tenure. They offered very little going forward and struggled to contain PSG's attackers on the opposite side of the pitch as well.
They will face the French club for the reverse leg of the tie on March 7 and are on the verge of the potential exit from the competition.
The heart of the matter
Phil Neville believes that Manchester United are still a long way from returning to an elite level.
He told BBC Radio Five Live: “Yes, it was a disappointing defeat on a flat night at Old Trafford, but that is not a reflection on Ole - more a reminder of how far this United team is from being a side that can win the Champions League.”
“I thought that after they lost at home to Juventus in October and, although they now have a different manager, as a team they are still in exactly the same place, which is well behind the leading European sides.” added the former Everton defender.
He also believes that the Red Devils are unlikely to turn the tie around when they face PSG for the reverse leg in March.
“From what we have just seen in the first leg, it is extremely hard to make a case for United turning the tie around in Paris on 6 March. With Paul Pogba suspended it is going to be a very tough ask for them to make progress, even if Anthony Martial and Jesse Lingard are fit. I think we have to accept that United are not good enough, and move on,” said Neville.
What's next?
The Red Devils will be looking forward to returning into winning ways when they face struggling Chelsea in the FA Cup fifth-round tie on February 19.