NEV: I’VE EARNED IT BECKS
EXCLUSIVE in Miami
PHIL NEVILLE is confident David Beckham will reward him with a new deal for leading in-form Inter Miami into the MLS play-offs.
Neville and most of his backroom staff are out of contract at the end of the season, and there were fears over their futures recently.
But Becks saw his old pal bag his fourth win on the spin as Miami thrashed Florida rivals Orlando in midweek to seal their spot in the playoffs, and keep alive cherished hopes of a first MLS title.
That should be enough to keep Neville – and his staff – in a job for next term at least.
Nev, whose side – led by 16-goal Gonzalo Higuain – finish off the regular season against Montreal today, said: “I don’t see it as a problem, I trust the people I work for.
“You go back to when we played ourselves and you got rewarded for good performances – so you know you have to really earn what you get given.
“I think we have a staff and a group of players that are heading in the same direction and we have got an ownership that’s got incredible ambition to do well.
“We are fifth right now and I know they want to be top, but, from the conversations we have had, getting to the play-offs is a big step in the right direction to where they want to be as a football club.”
Beckham (above) will be even happier if Miami can get a fifth win on the spin tonight – providing that other results go their way, a home tie in the first round of the play-offs is there for the taking.
Neville has loved his two seasons in south Florida and is desperate to stay.
He wants to build on what has been an encouraging season for a team who were hit with significant financial penalties by MLS bosses at the start of this campaign, following the signing of French World Cup winner Blaise Matuidi two years ago.
Neville added: “In the modern era, the young brigade have a couple of good games and want a new contract.
“There’s a thirst for having things before you’ve earned it – but I trust the people that I work for that they reward us for good performances. It keeps you hungry.”