Neville: Everyone wants me to fail
PHIL NEVILLE cannot wait to prove his critics wrong and bag World Cup glory with the Lionesses.
The former Manchester United and Everton midfielder takes charge of England women for the first time tomorrow when they face France here in Columbus, Ohio.
It has been a relief for Neville to finally get down to work on the training pitch following a stormy start to his reign with some ill-judged tweets forcing him on to the back foot before a ball had been kicked.
His appointment sent shockwaves through the women’s game, with critics questioning his credentials.
But having being written off for most of his playing career, those comments will be water off a duck’s back to Neville.
The 41-year-old’s eyes are firmly fixed on next summer’s World Cup and he said: “People are going to be watching this game wanting us to lose. We know that is going to happen.
“People want me to fail, 100 per cent. They want me to come here and lose all three games. But do you know what? That’s just how it was in my playing career.
“That’s part of my motivation. The team have got their motivation, I have got mine. It is to show people that we will be successful.
“And what I’ve found, since coming into the women’s game is that there are more people who want me to do well. The way I’ve been received has been nothing short of fantastic.”
England, ranked third in the world, take on No 1 USA and No2 Germany over the next 10 days in the She Believes Cup, a tournament in which they have won only one game in the two occasions they have taken part.
Neville said: “I’m not going to be judged by my bosses at the FA off these three games. But they know they are three massive games and if you look at England’s record in this tournament, we have found it difficult. It’s going to be no different this time. “But this is a chance to
make a statement. If we had played a team who we are better than in my first game and won three or four-nil, I wouldn’t have learned anything. I have already learned that the players who are here want to be here.
“And I know over the next 10 days what standards are required. We are playing the No 1 and No 2 teams in the world and I will see them at eye level. We will see how good they are.”
Neville was forced into a reshuffle before setting off for America with injuries to skipper Steph Houghton, vice-captain Jordan Nobbs and leading striker Karen Carney.
Youngsters Rachel Daly, Abbie McManus and Georgia Stanway were drafted in and have blown Neville away with their enthusiasm.
“We had a brilliant moment on Monday night when the young girls I’ve called into the squad stood up in front of the group and explained what playing for England meant to them,” he said.
“I’ve got to say it’s one of the best moments I’ve had in football because playing for England is the pinnacle. We have filmed it to show all the players who play for England in the future what it’s all about. It was emotional, it means the world to them. “Those are the types of players I want. If they are good enough, they are old enough. I will play them and they know
that.”