As featured on NewsNow: Football news

Man Utd legend Neville questions Mata future (plus 2 more) under Solskjaer

Manchester United legend Gary Neville has questioned the future of Juan Mata at Old Trafford.

Neville believes Romelu Lukaku, Mata and Marouane Fellaini do not fit in Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's Manchester United system.

All three were missing from the Red Devils' starting XI to face Spurs on Sunday, with the Belgian striker and Spanish midfielder on the bench. Fellaini was not in the squad.

"Looking at what Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has done, he's left out Lukaku, he's left out Mata most of the time, it's not a reflection on those two players but they do slow down attacks," Neville told Sky Sports.

"They can't move from one box to another quickly, all these players can run, along with the quality they have. Fellaini as well.

"They are two players who can potentially add things from the bench but they can't play at this pace, they can't make the movements of Martial, Lingard, Rashford, Pogba, they are not capable of doing it, they haven't got the physical attributes to do it.

"It [pace] is the basis of every team, you look at Manchester City with Sterling and Sane or Liverpool with Salah and Firmino, every team has to have those players and with the likes of Mata, Lukaku and Fellaini in the team, it was too slow. "

Video of the day:

About the author

Paul Vegas

×

Subscribe and go ad-free

For only $10 a year

  1. Go Ad-Free
  2. Faster site experience
  3. Support great writing
  4. Subscribe now
Launch Offer: 2 months free
×

Subscribe and go ad-free

For only $10 a year

Subscribe now
Launch Offer: 2 months free