Gary Neville was left optimistic about Manchester United despite defeat to Manchester City on Sunday.
Manchester United fell to their 11th defeat of the season against their neighbours but put up a better fight than many expected.
Erik ten Hag’s side took the game to City in the early stages with some direct play and went ahead through a Marcus Rashford wonder strike.
United held on until half-time but City’s dominance eventually paid off with a Phil Foden brace and a Erling Haaland strike securing the turnaround.
Although it was a third straight defeat to their local rivals, Gary Neville found reasons to be positive in the performance.
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Gary Neville finds positives despite derby defeat
Speaking on the Gary Neville podcast, he said: “It’s the result everyone expected before the game but the Rashford goal early on just got me out of my seat.
“It just meant United had something to hold on to. It was a different Manchester United today.
“I think that, we’ve all been really critical of them in the last couple of months even when they’ve been winning and they’ve won quite a few games in the last month or two.
“But the way in which they’ve been conceding lots of chances, they’ve been so open, so easy to play against, has been startling to watch.
“Actually today, I thought they were a compact unit of 11 players, including the goalkeeper, that were really well drilled, well organised.
“There’s obviously a change that’s been made. They didn’t have a centre-forward, or they chose not to go with a centre-forward, Rashford who can play there was playing wide and they decided to go with McTominay and Fernandes in those positions.
“It’s a very different Erik ten Hag set-up today but one that was respectful of City.
“And one that actually at the end of the game leaves you in a position where when you’re trying to analyse a game you’re not sat here thinking they were a disgrace today.
“You’re not thinking they were a mess, you’re not thinking they were all over the place.
“You’re sat here thinking that they played against a world-class team and they were actually quite resilient and well drilled.”
Progress that must be built upon
It might not feel like it given United managed just one shot on target and hardly saw any of the ball after the first 25 minutes, but it was an improvement.
Going into the derby, many predicted a heavy, heavy defeat for United because of how open they have been in recent weeks.
Ten Hag left his midfield completely exposed against Fulham and Nottingham Forest, which would have been disastrous against Foden and Kevin De Bruyne.
But United were much more solid against City, who did only equalise through a shot just as stunning as Rashford’s.
Erling Haaland may have missed a sitter earlier but City did not cut United open until the 80th minute.
It’s nothing to celebrate but it’s something United must build upon going forward for the rest of the season.
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