Gary Neville condemns ‘a huge missed opportunity’ after Man United is knocked out of the FA Cup by Leicester and misses a semi-final against Southampton – as the ‘demoralized’ pundit admits he was ‘surprised the team was rotated so many times’
- Gary Neville was left ‘demoralized’ after Man United crashed out of the FA Cup
- Leicester got past Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s United in the cup quarter-final
- Neville thinks United missed a great opportunity to win some silverware this season
Gary Neville has been left ‘demoralized’ after Manchester United crashed out of the FA Cup against Leicester.
Former Manchester City forward Kelechi Iheanacho continued his hot form in front of the Foxes with a brace when Youri Tielemens scored the squad to knock the Red Devils out of the competition in the quarter-final.
United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer called a completely different-looking side after returning from Italy, where they defeated AC Milan in the knockout rounds of the Europa League.
Gary Neville has been left ‘demoralized’ after Manchester United crashed out of the FA Cup
United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer called a completely different squad after the Europa League victory
Neville admitted that he was surprised at the number of changes made prior to the tie and feels that Solskjaer missed a good chance at a trophy.
“It’s been a good week, unsurprisingly they are going to Milan and doing what they did because they are well away from home,” he told the Gary Neville podcast with Sky Sports.
‘Beat West Ham last week, and I’m surprised the team has rotated so many times.
“I know he did, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, but this was a real opportunity. You think of the semi-final that took place at half-time in that match, which meant the winner played against Southampton.
It’s not a gimmy against Southampton in the semifinals by any means, but what an opportunity. And I really think that group of players should win a trophy under Solskjaer.
Neville admitted that he was surprised at the number of changes made before a draw
‘Yes, of course, finishing second would be the priority at the start of the season and winning a trophy will now be the priority, they only have the Europa League left, but that was a really good one today.
‘They have a decent track record in Leicester and I was sitting in the car listening to the game, come back from behind and think’ here we go ‘, not surprised with United away from home – but then those second and third go to inside and it is a huge missed opportunity. ‘
Neville also admitted that defeat at the King Power has left him feeling ‘demoralized’ as United’s pursuit of silverware with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has taken another step back.
‘I’m a little demoralized as a United fan tonight as I think this was a really good choice for this season,’ he added.
And if you want to take Manchester City, you have to beat them. I have to beat them in the big game and a big competition.
Spurs have that chance in a final in a few weeks and if Manchester City are in a final I know they have Chelsea, Manchester United must be there to stop them.
Neville also admitted that defeat at the King Power left him feeling ‘demoralized’
‘You can’t count on other teams to stop them if you’re the second best team in the country. If you have a half decent record against City, which United has under Solskjaer, then you must be the one to hold them back.
‘When you think about 1999, when Arsenal won the doubles the year before, we were the only team that could stop them in the semi-finals and we stopped them, worked hard, but we stopped them.
‘Same in the league, you can’t wait for other teams to stop them for you, if you want to catch teams you have to leave one and I’m disappointed with that tonight.
‘I think United fans are disappointed, I’ve seen the reaction on social media.’
