"They are in a better situation than they were last year" - Gary Neville on Manchester United ahead of 2024-25 PL season
Former Manchester United full-back Gary Neville reckons the Red Devils look to be in a 'better situation' compared to 12 months ago, before the arrival of minority owners INEOS in 2024.
United are coming off their worst season in Premier League history - finishing a lowly eighth - but redeemed themselves by upsetting holders Manchester City in the final to win the FA Cup.
The Red Devils have started the new campaign with an FA Community Shield loss to City on penalties. However, there's reason for optimism with the arrival of new players like Joshua Zirkzee, Leny Yoro, Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui.
"I hope Erik ten Hag will still be the Manchester United manager come the end of the season," Neville told Sky Sports (as per GOAL). "There's no doubt that if United have a really poor start and the results are the same as last year that Ten Hag will come under massive pressure very quickly.
"I am actually quietly optimistic about Manchester United. I just think the signings that they are bringing in are of a different profile from what they have bought in the past."
He added:
"The group of people they have now at the club, from owner down to sporting director, will not make the same mistakes the club have made in the last three or four seasons. They have wasted money and made signings that you knew would bring pressure to them at some point.
"The profile of the players they are bringing in now is right. They need a younger, quicker, athletic and more energetic football team, and I think that is what you are going to see from Manchester United this year."
Neville concluded:
"But just generally, I do think they are in a better situation than they were last year, and hopefully the change at the very top of the club with INEOS, which everyone has wanted for years, can bring more sensible decision-making."
United get their new Premier League campaign at home to Fulham on Friday (August 16).
How Manchester United fared against Fulham at home in the league last season?
Manchester United won't have happy memories of Fulham's last Premier League visit to Old Trafford in February earlier this year. That's because the Cottagers went home with all three points.
Calvin Bassey opened the scoring for the visitors after 65 minutes, but Harry Maguire's 89th-minute equaliser seemed enough for Erik ten Hag's side to force a share of the spoils.
However, Alex Iwobi bagged a dramatic winner in the seventh minute of stoppage time as Fulham won a league game at Old Trafford for the second time since 1963.