Manchester United hero Gary Neville believes that, away from new signings, his former side need three things if they are to close the gulf between themselves and title rivals Manchester City and Liverpool.
The Red Devils are currently sitting in fifth place in the Premier League are just one point behind fourth-placed Arsenal, though the North London outfit have three games in hand.
United have struggled under both Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Ralf Rangnick this season despite enjoying one of their most impressive summer transfer windows in recent times.
However, it is not only a lack of quality that has cost them this season.
Speaking to Sky Sports on Saturday, Neville named three significant differences between United and title-battling City and Liverpool.
The former right-back said: “The two teams at the top, their managers have got complete control in their clubs. Faith, trust, belief all the way through.
“Pep can leave Sterling out in the derby no one bats an eyelid, brings Grealish in, no one thought it would happen but gets on with it because he’s got complete control, no one questions him.
“ Manchester United haven’t got that and they haven’t had it for a number of years. The worst thing about a player being left out and not being happy about it, what I always used to think was, is that it’s disrespectful to the players who were left out in the previous week.
"You might be playing a lot and then you’ve been left out but what about the players who are on the bench for the last four weeks, that’s disrespectful and I don’t like it.”
Throughout this season, stories have circulated about unhappiness behind the scenes at Old Trafford, with reports being leaked of divides in the dressing room and individual players causing unrest with their attitudes.
Earlier this month, The Telegraph reported that forward Marcus Rashford was growing restless with his lack of opportunities of late despite his poor form, sparking a debate over whether United should let the England international depart.
But Rangnick was not willing to listen to the ‘lack of minutes’ argument, he said: “I don't think that he's not had enough game time. He's had 13 or 14 games since I've been here now. He's played more games from the start than he didn't play from the start. I don't think this is an issue and he never said anything about that when we spoke yesterday. But again, the window is closed right now.
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"Even, suppose he and his agents or his family at one stage of the summer think about maybe going to another club, well then he can do that, but in the summer. Now the window is closed.”
Cristiano Ronaldo has also been at the heart of controversy due to the feeling that he could force an exit from the club if United are unable to secure Champions League football next season.
With United due to appoint a new long-term manager in the summer, Neville will be hoping that a fresh face in the Old Trafford dugout will be able to instil a new lease of life at the club and create the trust between players and staff that is sorely lacking at the moment.
