‘Why I feared the worst ahead of derby’ – Neville

Its possible to see danger before it gets to you,Right? Gary Neville claims he “feared the worst” when it was announced that Paul Pogba would be missing the Manchester derby on Sunday.

Manchester City beat Manchester United 3-1 at the Etihad Stadium with goals from David Silva, Sergio Aguero and Ilkay Gundogan sealing the win for Pep Guardiola’s side.

The Red Devils struggled to get a foothold in the match with City controlling the midfield and limiting United’s chances.

Their only shot on target was their goal from the penalty spot and Neville puts their lack of creativity down to missing Pogba.

“When I got here this morning and I learned that Paul Pogba had not travelled to the team hotel, I feared the worst,” Neville said on his Sky Sports podcast.

“Pogba comes under a lot of scrutiny when he’s playing but he should come under a lot of scrutiny when he’s not playing.

“What you saw from United in central midfield was nowhere near good enough – we knew it was going to happen before the game.

“They can’t transfer the ball from back to front with any quality. With respect to Matic, Herrera and Fellaini, that’s not their qualities, that’s not what they do.

“But United can’t be in a position having spent all the money that they’ve spent to have a midfield that can’t pass the ball in what would be an acceptable way.

“You can have one player who is maybe lacking a bit in quality – you can’t have three in the same midfield. You don’t get the quality of the pass into the front three.

“Pogba not playing today was a massive blow. He didn’t play in the game at Old Trafford and it was a non-event.

“He came here, Pogba, and played in a United team similar to the team today and he was the difference in the second half.

“I do think United with Pogba in the second half in that 20 minute where City were a little bit nervous would have made a difference.

“What he does have, for all people can say about his faults, he has guts and courage and takes the ball in the final third.

 

“He has the arrogance to think he can play in any stadium in the world in any atmosphere with any pressure on him and deliver. That’s a massive quality that should never be underestimated.

“You can argue he doesn’t know the position in a two, loses his discipline – but what we know is he can change a game, his penetrating runs, his ability to run into the box, to find a pass, he was a big miss.”

After the match, Neville was involved in a heated debate with Graeme Souness over whether Jose Mourinho is getting the best out of the current crop of players.

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