Manchester United reached the summit of the Premier League table for the first time since 2017 and former England defender Gary Neville has urged them to believe that they can retain their position at the top even when the season reaches its conclusion.
It was Paul Pogba’s volley on Wednesday that powered the Red Devils to a 1-0 victory over Burnley. Consequently, the three points they earned helped them to displace Liverpool from the top of the table.
But United have to ensure that they stay atop as they will be facing the defending champions in their next match on Sunday. A win in that encounter for Liverpool will help them in regaining their position again. But Manchester United legend Gary Neville has urged the fans and the club to believe that they are capable of being the best team. They have no reason to not believe so.
“I don’t think anyone is saying Manchester United will win the league but the fact that they are in a title fight…wow. I never would have imagined it,” the ex-England man told Sky Sports.
“It’s a strange season. Why shouldn’t Manchester United fans believe? Why shouldn’t this side believe? Look at the front three, look at that midfield four, look at Bruno Fernandes – they have some fantastic players.
“The other teams aren’t in great form. Man City are sitting there cool and calm, nobody is really talking about them, but they are hitting very good form and that is a real danger. But in the next few days it is time to have a little bit of fun. It won’t be a comfortable few days for Liverpool.
“l believe these players feel they can have a really special season. It’s odd, it’s changing every single week, you don’t know what is going to happen and there’s an element of unpredictability and Manchester United could exploit that.”
Pogba has been subjected to criticism for a long time now but his performance on Wednesday was unarguably one of his best for the club. His ecstatic teammates completely mobbed him after his quality finish off a volley and Neville believes that the reaction of the players sums up the kind of spirits they are in right now.
“It’s a big win,” he noted. “To go top of the league before Sunday feels like a big moment in the sense that six to eight weeks ago you wouldn’t have thought Manchester United would have been anywhere near this position.
“Yet, now, they find themselves with something building, the spirit is growing as you could see with the way they celebrated with each other, there’s a resilience built off some performances which haven’t been great all the time away from home but they have won when they haven’t been at their best.
“You get confidence from that and now United are starting to play better. The players they have who are really top quality are starting to show those moments in a more consistent fashion.”
