Date published: Thursday 28th March 2019 1:25
Gary Neville thinks Ole Gunnar Solskjaer should make improving the Manchester United defence his “main priority” in the summer transfer window.
The club’s caretaker boss has been given a three-year deal to take over as permanent boss after he improved the team’s fortunes dramatically in a 19-match interim spell in charge.
And Neville, who also called on the club to back him in the transfer market, would like Solskjaer to prioritise the defence this summer.
“Defence is the main priority in terms of getting the centre-back pairings right because there have been so many changes,” Neville told Sky Sports.
“I think the defence is actually doing very well, it looks makeshift on paper but it outpunches its weight when you think about it.
“Antonio Valencia and Ashley Young have been doing brilliantly well at right and left-back for a few years, Luke Shaw has started to perform really well in the last few months.
“Victor Lindelof has had a good season, Chris Smalling’s doing well but in terms of that dominant presence, that is probably the key thing. A full-back and a centre-back in there, although there are other areas of the team.
“Solskjaer does need the right support around him now and that was something I said a few months ago. The structures and the quality of the people around him to ensure Manchester United get ahead of the game in recruitment is critical.
“Solskjaer is not going to be a success at Man Utd unless he gets the right people around him on recruitment and gets the right players in. That is absolutely essential.
“And the amount of money Man Utd will spend will be big, but over the last few years, the club haven’t fallen short and have always supported the managers. I don’t think the club will fall short in financial terms, they will spend the money.
“It is in the back of my mind that the players have been fantastic in these last few months for Ole, but they are the same players that downed tools under Jose Mourinho and I’m conscious in my mind that the players need maintain that same level of concentration, determination and attitude now that Ole has been made the permanent manager.
“That is the critical thing – getting the signings right, getting the people around Ole right and making sure that the players, although the performances have improved, can continue to maintain the levels they’ve been at over the last three months and don’t dip back to where they were before.”
