Football must change or die, warns Neville
GaRY Neville believes english football must change if it is to survive and prosper once more. With the Premier league just two days away from a resumption after three months at the mercy of the coronavirus, the former Manchester United captain says the game must learn vital lessons. ‘this is a moment now,’ said Neville. ‘the moment to change the way we behave, the way we approach things, the way in which we deal with our fans, the way in which we deal with our other clubs, the way that the pyramid deals with each other and the way we deal with each other in society. ‘it just feels like a huge moment. i would hope football uses this as a chance to reset, distribute the wealth more, give grassroots more, give the lower league clubs more. ‘Make ourselves still the best league in the world but also do all the things that we know
are right.’ Neville is a respected Sky Sports pundit and also part-owner of League Two club Salford City. He fears some clubs will go bust if the Premier League’s vast wealth is not redistributed more evenly. ‘I’m still disappointed that there isn’t a rescue package in place from the Premier League or a statement to suggest that they are going to put it in place when things are back to normal again,’ he added. ‘I’m hearing horror stories at League One and League Two level and I don’t think it’s necessary with the money that’s in the game.’ On the field Neville believes the main obstacle to Liverpool following their imminent title win with another one next year is a mental one. ‘They mustn’t think the first one is the Holy Grail,’ he said. ‘They should forget about it as soon as they have won it. ‘In terms of back-to-back titles it’s purely up here in your head. It’s not a talent thing. ‘My main criticism of Manchester City in the early years of them winning titles was that I always felt that after they had won it they all relaxed. ‘You really have to go to the next level. You can’t just repeat your performance because everybody has seen that. You have to go above it. ‘Liverpool are capable of doing it but they will have a very angry Manchester City and Pep Guardiola chasing after them. ‘That doesn’t mean Liverpool shouldn’t celebrate. They should celebrate like hell when they win it. But it will come from the manager. ‘He doesn’t strike me as the type who will get carried and think, “This is it. I’ve done it. I’vewon the European Cup, got my statue and won the league”.’ ‘I was surprised they withdrew on the purchase of Timo Werner as it would have sent out an incredible statement. But we understand the financial difficulties everybody is in.’ Asked for his player of the season, Neville had an unexpected answer. ‘I think Alisson has made Liverpool win the League,’ he said. ‘Two or three years ago I said Liverpool would never win the league while their current goalkeeper was in position. ‘Jurgen Klopp came for me but as soon as Alisson arrived I saw what I once saw at Manchester United with Peter Schmeichel and then I saw it in that next spell where we had greatness with Edwin van der Sar. ‘Once your goalkeeper is calm, authoritative and saves most shots on his goal it gives confidence to the rest of the team. The impact of that is absolutely incredible.’
l The Premier League returns to Sky Sports with a double-header on Wednesday, followed by a further 20 matches which will see all 20 teams live on Sky Sports and NOW TV in the opening two weeks.
l Sky Sports and NOW TV will show 64 matches — 39 exclusive to subscribers and an extra 25 available on Sky’s free-to-air channel ‘Pick’