Manchester United captain Gary Neville can hold his head high after last night's defeat to Bayern Munich.

The Daily Mail says Neville can be proud of his performance against Bayern star Franck Ribery.

His fitness has improved markedly and with it his form. Recently he has started to play consecutive games again, big games too. His body has allowed it and his manager has trusted him against teams such as Liverpool and AC Milan.

The Brazilian Ronaldinho, for example, took his young compatriot Rafael to pieces at the San Siro in the first leg of the last round. He didn't do that to Neville in the second game.

According to those who know him, this is what matters to Neville. He must, by all accounts, have that feeling of responsibility, of importance, when he drags his tiring body round the training pitches of Carrington on cold winter mornings.

Last night, his was one of his team's better performers.