Gary Neville has warned Manchester United fans that Erik ten Hag has a long way to go until he can rub shoulders with Thomas Tuchel and Chelsea. The German boss transformed the Blues into European and world champions inside 16 months of taking helm at Stamford Bridge.
He's enjoyed a healthy 66% win-rate with west Londoners, despite having been granted just one outfield signing of his own. Despite Tuchel's misfortunes in the transfer market, he's fast-tracked Chelsea and armed the club with the blueprints to combat powerhouses Manchester City and Liverpool.
There remains a 16-point disparity between the Premier League title challengers and the west Londoners. But, Chelsea, who sit third, are currently relishing a eight-point advantage over United, who sit sixth, in the race for Champions League qualification.
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Speaking on Sky Sports, Neville tasked ten Hag with the challenge of narrowing aforementioned gulf in class which separates United from the Chelsea, City and Liverpool. He said: "I'm likening the job that Ten Hag’s got - you’re coming now to Man United when these two, three managers [Pep Guardiola, Jurgen Klopp and Thomas Tuchel] are set in their jobs and they’ve got their foundations that are so deep.
"The job that Ten Hag’s got is absolutely huge. It’s more of a Gerard Houllier and Rafa Benitez job because they were taking on managers with outstanding records over a long period of time."
Roy Keane added by explaining how Ten Hag must hit the ground running at Old Trafford, alluding to Chelsea's quick shift in form after Tuchel replaced Frank Lampard. The former United midfielder said: "A good manager will believe he can turn things around quickly, not in terms of challenging, but to get closer and competing.
"The fans and the club have got to get confidence in this manager. There was doubts about every manager [Jose] Mourinho, [Louis] Van Gaal, [David] Moyes and Ole [Gunnar Solskjaer]. When he comes in, he’s got to get the full backing and proper support and give him that power that he deserves to get."
