Even Guardiola would not say this is a great team yet, argues Neville

MANCHESTER UNITED legend Gary Neville has poured scorn on the idea that Pep Guardiola’s record-breaking Manchester City side are the best team in Premier League history and claimed they cannot yet be compared with the great United sides built by Sir Alex Ferguson.

City made it a remarkable 17 Premier League wins in a row when they beat Bournemouth 4-0 at the Etihad Stadium to extend their lead at the top of the table, temporarily at least, but Neville insisted they still have a long way to travel before they can lay any claim to greatness.

‘Some people are saying City are the greatest side in Premier League history but I wouldn’t even engage in that discussion,’ said Neville. ‘You’ve got to have won Premier League title at least just to enter the debate and this Guardiola side haven’t done that yet. You have got to win two or three domestic titles to be seen as a great team of an era. If they are a one-season wonder, if they win the league this year and then don’t win it in the next couple of years, I wouldn’t see that as a great side. I’d see that as a team that’s had a great season.

‘But a great side is what Liverpool did in the 80s or what United did in the 90s and 2000s: win multiple trophies and European Cups. United had three great sides in the Ferguson era, the ’94 Double team, the ’99 Treble team and the 2008 team. They were great sides that have achieved far more than this Man City team have done to date.

‘The Mourinho Chelsea side of 2004-06 were a great side as well. They won two titles on the bounce. The Barcelona team of Guardiola were a great side. City have got a long way to go yet. I don’t think even Guardiola would tell you they’re a great side because he has managed great sides.’

Fellow United legend Paul Scholes heaped praise on Guardiola’s side but said some of the blame for their dominance had to be placed at the door of opponents including United.

‘This City team haven’t got anybody like Roy Keane,’ said Scholes. ‘It’s very early to talk about City as the best Premier League team ever. It’s been 15 games. They look like they are going to win the league. They are a brilliant team but it’s December. The disappointing thing in the derby game was that it was a little bit of an embarrassment at home, the way United sat off. I guarantee that if we had been playing against that team, De Bruyne and Silva would have been man-marked. Fletcher, Carrick or Roy Keane would not have given them an inch.

‘But they were given the freedom of the pitch. To any United fan or anyone who has played for United, it was unacceptable.’