Gary Neville has admitted there are “worries” about two Manchester United players ahead of Erik ten Hag’s men kicking off the new Premier League season.
Manchester United will face Fulham at Old Trafford in their opening match of the 2024-25 Premier League season, with kick-off slated for 8pm UK time on Friday.
The Red Devils have seen an overhaul to their first-team squad this summer, with the likes of Mason Greenwood, Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Willy Kambwala offloaded.
However, Erik ten Hag has seen his United team strengthened with the acquisitions of Joshua Zirkzee, Leny Yoro, Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui.
The Premier League club were in action last week at Wembley and suffered a penalty shootout defeat to Manchester City in the Community Shield.
But Ten Hag has put the Community Shield defeat behind him and is looking for United to start the new Premier League season with a strong statement.
The Red Devils endured their worst finish in the Premier League last season, with United finishing in eighth place under Ten Hag.
Neville’s Man Utd concern
Speaking ahead of the Fulham clash, Gary Neville insisted that Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag still has an “imbalance” to “some parts of the team.”
Erik ten Hag already faces a major concern at left-back after England star Luke Shaw was dealt a fresh injury blow ahead of the new season.
Luke Shaw missed the second half of the 2023-24 Premier League campaign before representing England at Euro 2024 in Germany this summer.
However, United confirmed that the 29-year-old suffered a calf injury at the start of pre-season training and would likely return after the September international break.
Back-up left-back Tyrell Malacia remains a long-term absentee, while Ten Hag turned to Lisandro Martinez as a makeshift left-back for the Community Shield.
Ten Hag was also dealt a major blow in pre-season after United striker Rasmus Hojlund suffered an injury during the defeat to Arsenal last month.
Rasmus Hojlund is United’s first-choice striker and it remains to be seen if Ten Hag is able to use Netherlands striker Joshua Zirkzee for the match against Fulham.
“There’s still an imbalance in some parts of the team that need to get better, worries about obviously Luke Shaw who’s now injured at left-back and who’s going to play there potentially up front if Hojlund does continue with his injury,” Neville told Sky Sports.
“Obviously, you know, United are short up there, but just generally, I think that they’re in a better situation than they were last year, no doubt.”
Neville remains open-minded about Man Utd
Despite his concerns over Luke Shaw and Rasmus Hojlund, Gary Neville revealed that he is “quietly optimistic” about what to expect from United under Ten Hag.
“No doubt if he has a really poor start and the results the same as last year that he’ll come under massive pressure very quickly but I’m actually quietly optimistic about Manchester United,” he said.
“I just think that the signs that they’re bringing in are of a different profile than they have in the past.
“The group of people now who are at the club, from the owner down to the sporting director, technical director, and CEO, will not make the same mistakes that Manchester United made in the last three or four seasons, where they have wasted money, and they made signs that you knew at the time were going to bring pressure to them at some point.
“I think the profile of the players that they’re bringing in is the right profile. They need a younger, quicker, more athletic, energetic football team, and I think that’s what you’re going to see from Manchester United this year.”
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