Gary Neville predicts that Manchester United will NOT finish in the top five this season after Red Devils’ poor start… as former full-back claims Erik ten Hag’s side have been ‘way off it’

Gary Neville suggested that Manchester United will not finish in the Premier League‘s top five places, after their sluggish start to the 2023-24 campaign.  

The Red Devils currently sit tenth in the Premier League table after a dramatic late comeback against Brentford helped salvage all three points on Saturday afternoon.

A brace from substitute Scott McTominay saw United’s two-match losing streak come to an end, following defeats against Crystal Palace and Galatasaray. 

And, with just four wins from their opening eight league matches, club legend Neville has made a bold prediction over their league finish.  

Speaking on the Gary Neville Podcast: ‘I don’t think Manchester United will finish in the top five this season.

Gary Neville has predicted that they will not finish in the top five in the Premier League table

‘I think they are way off it. And I’m surprised because seven or eight weeks ago, I had them third, But honestly from what I see at the moment, I don’t think the goalkeeper is settled in, I think he should have saved the one yesterday so that is a problem.

‘If you’re goalkeeper is not settled in and there is a bit of instability around that, it does create a big problem. I’ve had that at United. So United, not for me’.

Former Inter Milan goalkeeper Andre Onana arrived for £43million over the summer, with last season’s Golden Glove winner David de Gea allowed to leave on a free. 

Despite Onana’s footwork being lauded, he has come under much scrutiny for his performances with his hands – with Brentford’s goal at Old Trafford being seen as preventable by many.

Additionally, a poor pass against Galatasaray in midweek contributed to the Red Devils losing a second successive home game, and directly resulted in Brazil star Casemiro getting sent off.

Neville continued: ‘Chelsea, I think are probably nearer to it if they can go on a run because they have got some really good young talented players. Their age is a lot better than United’s squad.’

United goalkeeper Andre Onana has come under scrutiny for his early season performances

The Red Devils have won just four out of their opening eight league matches this season

Scrutiny over Onana’s performances have come thick and fast in recent weeks, with club legend Peter Schmeichel arguing the keeper’s poor start to life at Manchester United has begun to affect his team-mates.

‘I think a lot of that [Onana’s mistakes] is pressure,’ began Schmeichel. ‘I spoke to him after Bayern. I spoke to him after Galatasaray as well and he was very down on the mistakes he made.

‘I’m trying to speak to him about what it’s like being at Manchester United and why whatever [mistakes] you’ve made, you have to put it in a box and put it to the side. If you make a mistake in the game, it might be a mistake we can see, it might be a mistake that we don’t see.

‘But you wait to think about it and analyse it after the game or at night or whatever. You have to be there for the next moment. If you’re not, you’ll make the next mistake’.