Manchester United legend Gary Neville has criticised their “scruffy” start to the season and urged the club to make two more signings before the transfer window slams shut.
United have picked up six points from their first three games of the season, beating Wolves and Nottingham Forest but losing to Tottenham. Neville believes both Wolves and Forest will feel “really hard done by” to not have beaten United and that slow starts are now becoming a pattern under Erik ten Hag.
The Red Devils lost their first two games last season to Brighton and Brentford before finding some form and Neville has warned United they need to find their feet ahead of a huge game against Arsenal this weekend.
Speaking on the Gary Neville Podcast, the former United captain said: “You always feel with United under Erik ten Hag, they’re not fluid at all at this stage in the season. In fact, they’ve been really scruffy in the first couple of weeks.
“You think about the Wolves game where Wolves were really unlucky not to get a victory. Nottingham Forest will feel really hard done by and obviously they got beat by Tottenham. But they’ve got a next Sunday at Arsenal which is going to be really interesting because Arsenal slipped up [drawing 2-2 with ten-man Fulham ].
“For United, it isn’t quite going for them yet. It isn’t quite happening, but they’ve put six points on the board and that’s quite important. Two tough away games with Tottenham and now Arsenal next and if they hadn’t won those home games I think they’d be under pressure.”
The game against Arsenal will take place two days after the transfer window closes and Neville believes United need to sign a left-back and a midfielder, having already spent big on Rasmus Hojlund, Mason Mount and Andre Onana this summer.
“I think they have to try to do something in the transfer market this week,” he continued. “They’ve got to try and get players out. Some clubs get players out really well, but United don’t tend to do that. They’ve got players in better this summer.
“There’s no doubt they want another player or two. A left-back and central midfield player and I think they need that or else they’re going to get put under real pressure, particularly when all the other competitions kick in.
“I think there is another one or two players needed just to beef up the squad because of injuries and he does want another midfield player to sit in there alongside Casemiro. It’s an important week for United before Arsenal.”
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