Gary Neville says the signing of Cristiano Ronaldo has brought Manchester United into the title conversation, though he feels Man City and Chelsea are the favourites to win the Premier League this season.
United confirmed on Friday that they had agreed a fee with Juventus to bring the player back to Old Trafford, subject to the Portuguese star agreeing personal terms & completing a medical.
Although Neville says he ‘guarantees goals’ and will raise standards at the club, he does not feel Ronaldo’s impact will be so great that he can help them to the title – though they have a better chance with him in the team.
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‘I made the prediction that it would be Manchester City, Chelsea and Manchester United [in that order] and I’m not going to change that because of the signing of Ronaldo,’ Neville told Sky Sports on Saturday after Chelsea’s 1-1- draw with Liverpool.
‘I’m going to stick with that because I don’t think the Ronaldo signing makes them a better team than Chelsea, who were the Champions League winners last season, or Manchester City, who were 20 points clear.
‘Absolutely it brings them closer to winning the title, it will absolutely get them closer. But do I think it will win them the title at this point? No I don’t. But now I’m more excited about Manchester United challenging for the title than I was maybe five or six days ago.
‘I don’t think they will. I want them to. Cristiano Ronaldo and Raphael Varane will have the mentality to win United the title, there’s no doubt, but if I had to put my house on it now, do I think they’ll win the title this season? No. But I’m desperate for them to win the title. I’m just being pragmatic.
‘I think there’s an element that you have to be in for these players if you’re Manchester United. Whether that wins you the title or not, I’m unsure. It gives them a far better chance than they had 48 hours ago.
‘He isn’t coming for Champions League places. He’s coming for personal accolades and titles. There is no doubt about that. I hope that he can be the difference, because if he gets 10% out of every other player there’s a big chance. There’s a big chance.
‘But let’s be clear, Manchester City have been exceptional for the last three or four seasons. Chelsea just won the Champions League and now have a better team this season. So they’re also against the best two teams in Europe, three if you count Liverpool.
‘The Premier League is at the highest standard it has been for a long, long time. It’s not an easy Premier League this one, it’s got back to the top level in Europe and I think Manchester United are up against really good sides.
‘In years gone by I might have said this Man United team will win the title by 10 points, but it’s such a strong Premier League this one.’
