Neville reveals why City are not a great team yet

MANCHESTER CITY must back up their Premier League title success with another triumph next season if they are to put themselves among the great English sides as one strong campaign will mean nothing if Pep Guardiola’s side flop in 2019, says Gary Neville.

Manchester United’s surprise 1-0 defeat by West Bromwich Albion last Sunday gifted City the title thanks to their unassailable 16-point lead, and they can yet become the first team in English top flight history to reach 100 points in a single season, with Chelsea’s 2004/05 haul of 95 remaining the all-time high.

But despite their breeze to the 2018/19 title, former United defender Neville believes that one good season does not mean that this City side quantify as great, and they must back up their success to ensure they can be compared with the likes of the Chelsea side that dominated from 2004 to 2006 or the United sides of 2007, 2008 and 2009.

“We’re talking about one of the greatest ever Premier League single season performances,” Neville said of City’s current campaign.

“They are not one of the greatest Premier League teams. Guardiola would never say one title is the measurement of greatness. His Barcelona team was probably the greatest of all time, that’s how you measure it, when you can sustain it.

“He then went to Bayern and won it three times on the bounce. Guardiola if he was sitting here next season and someone else had won the league he would say his team have not gone on to achieve greatness. They need to do more season after season.”

The success this season draws Guardiola level with Mourinho on 20 title and cup wins apiece, and while Mourinho still has the chance to add the FA Cup if United can negotiate Tottenham Hotspur this weekend and either Chelsea or Southampton in the final, Neville believes that next season’s Premier League title battle will mean the most to both managers.

Neville also claimed that he does not buy into the belief that City will now dominate English football under Guardiola, given that there could easily be a new champion next season if City take their foot off the gas.

“I don’t go along with the theory that it’s a surety that they’ll dominate,” Neville added. “If you look at the head to head of Mourinho and Guardiola, they’ve won 20 titles each.

“Next season is critical, this season means Guardiola has stolen in front. Next season is absolutely critical, this time next year we’re going to be talking about who the winner and the loser is.” – The Independent