Manchester United legend Gary Neville has finally agreed with a bold claim previously made by former Red Devils teammate Gerard Pique about him playing in modern football.
Gary Neville spent his entire playing career at Old Trafford and was a key defensive figure in Sir Alex Ferguson’s legendary Manchester United teams of the past.
One of the famed ‘Class of ‘92’ members, the 49-year-old former United defender rose through the youth academy before firmly establishing himself in the first team.
During a glittering career at Old Trafford, Neville lifted eight Premier League titles, two Champions League trophies, three FA Cups and three League Cups.
The ex-Red Devils right-back even served as club captain under Sir Alex Ferguson after United legend Roy Keane was axed from the Premier League side.
Following his England and United career, Neville transitioned into punditry and has been a leading figure for Sky Sports during matchday coverage in the league.
The United legend also spent time as England assistant manager, while Neville’s first stint as a manager ended in disaster after his ill-fated spell with Valencia.
Man Utd legend Neville makes admission
Despite making a whopping 602 appearances for Manchester United, Gary Neville is all too aware of the demands placed on modern full-backs in the sport today.
The former United captain appeared on The Overlap and spoke to Liverpool star Trent Alexander-Arnold, who has been widely praised for his skills as a full-back.
Trent Alexander-Arnold has shown his versatility as a modern-day full-back, having excelled in his role as a right-back and having played in midfield for Liverpool.
Neville admitted that he questioned if he would have “even survived” as a right-back if he played football today due to the significant demands placed on players.
“I always think now in some way, if I was to time travel, I’d travel forward – every team I watch the full-backs, it starts to mesmerise me and think how would I have even survived,” he said.
“Not just watching you, forget you, you’re a freak with the way you pass the ball, but watching [Pedro] Porro at Spurs going into midfield, and doing what he does.
“And [Destiny] Udogie, you see what [John] Stones is doing at the moment at City, playing in midfield, then Kyle’s [Walker] having to tuck in and then get back out again.
“My job was really simple. If my left-back went forward, I’m tucking ’round. If I go forward, he’s tucking ’round. If it’s on my side, I’m going out there and getting to him.
“My game’s quite methodical, and what you’re being asked to do now on the ball, and the positions you’re being asked to take up, the degrees of difficulty are like here [up high], to the degrees of difficulty I was asked to play the game.
“So, I would just love to be here now – you [Trent] would like to see me now, to see me suffer!
“So, you’ll be saying, ‘You won’t be gobbing off anymore!’ To be fair, I look at you all and think, I can’t even relate to it, the game.”
What Pique said about Neville
Gerard Pique came through the United youth academy after the Red Devils snapped him up from Barcelona’s famed La Masia academy.
The 37-year-old Spaniard was unable to become a regular starter under Sir Alex Ferguson and Pique returned to the Camp Nou in 2008 for only a £5m fee.
Pique, who had a legendary career at Barcelona, previously admitted that Neville might have struggled to adapt to the demands of modern football if he played today.
“I think that football has developed so much in the last few years,” he told talkSPORT last month.
“I think any centre-back or right-back in the ‘90s or any left-back or any ‘keeper could not play now.
“Not because they didn’t have the talent, they had the talent, but because the way of playing is totally different.
“A ‘keeper of the ‘90s it was just about saving, now you have to play with the feet and they weren’t trained to do that.”