Neville and Giggs Sound Off Over Reds Failure
Stuart Mathieson
GARY Neville and Ryan Giggs have hit out after United's failure to win the Premiership
for the third year in a row.
Chelsea can become back-to-back champions today if the Reds fail to beat Tottenham
at White Hart Lane and Jose Mourinho's side win against Everton at Stamford Bridge
later this afternoon.
Even if that does not happen, United's 0-0 draw with Sunderland all but handed the
title to the Londoners and left the Reds in a battle with Liverpool for the runners-up
spot. And the club's most experienced campaigners have lashed out, saying it is simply
not good enough.
Between them Giggs and captain Neville have 14 Premiership title medals and have
played more than 1,100 United matches, but they have had to watch Arsenal, and
now Chelsea, twice take the title in the last three years. Said Neville: "Second
is a big disappointment for us. While it gives us a Champions League spot it
is not really an achievement for this club.
Pressure
"We were hoping to put pressure on Chelsea but
we haven't done it. I can't believe we didn't score a goal against Sunderland
because we have been playing great attacking football.
"But we didn't play as well as we have been doing and we didn't work Sunderland
enough. The supporters expected us to win and we expected to win. But it didn't
happen for us and we are disappointed.
"We had a great chance of putting pressure on Chelsea and we didn't take it.
We needed to win all our games. We talked about having to do our job and on Friday
we didn't. We have to move forward to the next games and finish the season strongly."
Giggs, who won his first title medal 13 years ago, says United's squad must now
examine their personal contributions and fight back next year.
"You have to stand up and be counted as a team," insists the 32-year-old.
"As individuals we have to take a look at ourselves and come back stronger.
"The only plus point can be how you react. We have to react in a positive
way. We have to bounce back."
