Gary Neville
Football Expert @GNev2
Manchester United: Gary Neville says they miss big influences but won't panic
Manchester United are missing big influences on the pitch but won't panic, says Gary Neville.
Last Updated: 23/01/14 10:05am
Sunderland booked their place at Wembley after a disappointing penalty shoot-out where United only scored with one of their five kicks, following a howler from David De Gea that had allowed Phil Bardsley to score in extra-time.
United remain seventh after a disappointing Premier League season and are now only fighting on one cup front - the Champions League - and Neville told Sky Sports that Moyes needs to recover and start searching for that missing quality.
Neville said: "He's got to pick himself up. He's been having to do that quite a bit within the last few months but nothing changes.
"It's going to be a tough season and that's a massive disappointment for David Moyes, the fans and the players.
"They didn't do enough. When you dominate games and don't take the game away from the other team then you're in the lap of the gods.
"There was the mistake at the end from the goalkeeper which is uncharacteristic for him this season but it gets to the point where you continually watch them here this season and you can't keep saying they're not doing enough - they haven't got enough, simple as that.
"The thing about this club is that it won't panic. There'll be a lot of criticism and a lot of attention in the next few days and they'll have to put their helmets on, but they'll stick together, they'll dig in and the club will rally around David Moyes and the players.
"There'll be huge disappointment in the fans but they'll come again. I suppose it's a time in some ways for hard work and quality to come back into the team."
Influence
With the transfer window closing next Friday, United are closing in on the £40million signing of Chelsea midfielder Juan Mata who, Neville says, could be key in bringing in a vital 'freshness' to the dressing room.
"Signing players like Mata in particular will give belief and add a freshness into the changing room and give people a lift," added Neville.
"There's just not enough creativity in the final third, the tempo is not quick enough and that's why there's the speculation around Juan Mata.
"Wayne Rooney and Robin van Persie are big misses. On nights like tonight they needed ruthless forwards to really take games away from teams and really grab games by the scruff of the neck. They haven't got it at the moment, they're missing big influences.
"He needs players, it's obvious. He needs players back from injury, he's having a bit of bad luck, but there's just not enough at the moment. Players back, players signed, creativity and quality and belief.
"The locations where he needs those players is pretty obvious because there's been public bids made last summer in the areas he wants to strengthen - central midfield, wide areas and left-back.
"I think it's pretty public about where they want to strengthen, it's now just whether they can in this window. There's a period of time left it in and I'm sure they can."
Can Juan Mata save Manchester United's season? How big a blow is this cup exit on David Moyes' season? Give your view by commenting below.