Neville - No sympathy for Reds

United defender insists Liverpool didn't deserve to qualify

By Richard Bailey   Last updated: 26th November 2009   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Neville - No sympathy for Reds

Neville: Critical of Liverpool

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Gary Neville believes Liverpool got what they deserved having failed to qualify for the knockout stages of the UEFA Champions League.

The Reds were knocked out of Europe's premier competition on Tuesday despite recording a 1-0 win over Debrecen, consigning them to the Europa League in the new year.

The 34-year-old was part of the Red Devils side that experienced a similar fate in 2005 when United were knocked out in the group stages having mustered just six points from a group containing Benfica, Villarreal and Lille.

Neville, already not the most popular figure amongst Liverpool supporters, declared that the Merseysiders have just not been good enough this season.

"As a team, you get what you deserve don't you?" he said.

"We are where we are because we deserve to be there and it's the same with Liverpool.

"We went out ourselves a few years back. They just haven't performed well enough in the Champions League to get the results."

Critical

However, Neville was critical of his own side's display after they fell to their first home defeat in Europe for nearly five years following Besiktas' 1-0 win at Old Trafford on Wednesday.

"I am extremely disappointed," he added. "We didn't convert our chances and didn't do enough in the last third. Their goal set us back a little bit.

"It gave them something to hang on to but usually we would expect to score a goal in 95 minutes at Old Trafford. We just didn't manage it."

Despite the defeat the full-back believes Ferguson's decision to field a weakened side, giving some of his youngsters an opportunity, was the right choice with United having already qualified from Group B.

"Some of the general play was good," he observed. "(Federico) Macheda and (Danny) Welbeck did very well in the first-half with their link-up play and we should have created more off that.

"I don't think the game was too big for the youngsters. Overall I thought they handled it really well. But we just needed that goal."

Comments (29)

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Antony Mckinnon (Liverpool fan) says...

Yes life at old trafford is great as long as it lasts . dont seem to remember you doing so well in the final last year garry son . anyway maybe you have been been hanging too long with the so called best manager in the premier league enjoy your retirementgary old boy

Posted 18:43 28th November 2009

Stephen Ryan (Liverpool fan) says...

Yawn!!! More comments from Man UTD's number 1 sub although in fairness he does have a good view of all the games from the dugout. However he was very quiet when Livepool beat Utd United 2-0 which must mean we are the better team because we got what we deserve. Enjoy sitting in the stands for the rest of the season Mr. Neville.

Posted 12:46 27th November 2009

Danny O'brien (Liverpool fan) says...

While Neville is right in what he is saying, he should keep his comments to himself. Not many people listen to washed-up 4th choice squad players these days. Fair play to Ryan Fergus for recognizing the difficulty of Liverpools group compared to United's in '05. But Liverpool should still have had enough to top that group. % minutes of switching off resulted in a 6 point swing against us & that was the killer.

Posted 11:50 27th November 2009

Tim Marshall (Manchester United fan) says...

Norman Hill you are a disgrace to Man U fans, the perfomance of the youngsters last night was pretty good and the experience they will learn from that is invaluable! You paid to watch them knowing that SAF was putting a weakened team out so dont whinge about it! I think you should come out of the closet and go down the road to watch Liverpool play, only then will you appreciate what you see at the Theatre of Dreams. Nice to see Mr Neville getting under the skin of all you Lpool fans as per!haha! P.S Lpool fans i think tickets are on sale now for your end of season do! (discounted of course, they are trying to get the numbers up!)

Posted 15:16 26th November 2009

David Dyer (Liverpool fan) says...

Mr Neville - you should be more concerned with digging up that Liverpool shirt that the builders put under you swimming pool at your new home. When you get it put it on, jump in and hold your breath (preferabally for 30 minutes)

Posted 15:13 26th November 2009

Adam Hampson (Liverpool fan) says...

As A liverpool fan i hate to admit Neville was right we have been poor this season and didnt deserve to go through everyone talks about injuries but united are still up there and they have lost ronaldo and tevez that is the same as us losing stevie g and fernando but they have coped while we cant. Rafa has never built a squad we need big changes before our top players leave.gerrard will be one of the best midfielders to never win the league if rafa stays

Posted 15:09 26th November 2009

John Bundy (Liverpool fan) says...

wow gary neville what have you ever done for man utd? i dont see how he is still the captain he doesnt play at all and he is what fourth choice right back? most overrated player ever and i cant believe he ever played for england. time for retirement i think.

Posted 13:24 26th November 2009

Ste Whelan (Liverpool fan) says...

Ye like people value your opinion, youve hardly played in the last 2 seasons you wash up, your 'golden era' was over years ago haha

Posted 13:22 26th November 2009

Andrew Turner (Manchester United fan) says...

I totally agree with Neville, Liverppol got exactly what they deserved. If you throw away late goals in the Champions League by switching off what do you expect? Even the Liverpool fans I know think they are not prepared for the CL and that Rafa should go.

Posted 13:20 26th November 2009

Paul Silva (Liverpool fan) says...

I'm a Liverpool fan and I am right in saying we have been useless this season. But.......I'd like to know which planets have collided to give this joker the right to comment on any football related matter. Why can't he just sit quietly on the bench like any other washed up wannabe? It seems like GNev feels the need to give his two cents on all things football related - just to keep his ugly mug in the papers. It was only yesterday I was reading Mr Neville's opinion on the England squad, which he referred to as 'we' - meaning he expects to be part of the World Cup! He can also add the tag of fantasist to his annoying trait collection if that's the case! Do everyone a favour Gary and crawl back up Sir Alex's backside and don't come back!!

Posted 13:19 26th November 2009

Ryan Fergus (Manchester United fan) says...

I've got to agree with Neville that you get what you deserve. However, I think his comments are misplaced as it is well documented that Gary Neville has an extreme hate of not only Liverpool FC but also the residents of the city. We had an easy group in '05, and we didn't beat them, I'd sooner play our group of '05 rather than Fiorentina and Lyon, who are both forces to be reckoned with

Posted 13:18 26th November 2009

Steve Grainger (Arsenal fan) says...

Seems to me all Neviile wants to do is revel in Liverpool,s failure to qualify? why worry about another clubs demise surely you should concentrate on your own team!! he,s just trying to stir things up,and they wonder why the oppositions fans chant abuse!! will they ever learn to just keep their opinions to themselves..

Posted 13:15 26th November 2009

Scott Henry (Manchester United fan) says...

Couldn't agree more gary!!!! also i thought Obertan was exellant last night!!

Posted 13:14 26th November 2009

Paul Jones (Liverpool fan) says...

Gary Neville would say that wouldn't he? Everyone knows he hates Liverpool, so he's gonna say we didn't deserve it. Look at United's group in 2005, Lille, Villarreal and Benfica don't exactly have the power of Lyon or Fiorentina, or even Debrecin. Silly Neville

Posted 13:09 26th November 2009

Steve Mcnorton (Liverpool fan) says...

Typical Gary Neville always talking about Liverpool, he should concentrate on getting his place back in the United team first...We know we have not been good enough in the Champions League this season & the manager is getting it wrong a lot recently

Posted 13:07 26th November 2009

Sunil Inteti (Manchester United fan) says...

It's a fair comment by Gary!

Posted 13:07 26th November 2009

Im alex sir alex... (Manchester United fan) says...

why do all manu players keep talking about other clubs...worst he talks even after losing.!!!!!what a pathetic human being!!!!

Posted 13:06 26th November 2009

Clever Cloggs (Manchester United fan) says...

I couldn't agree with you more Gary!! I don't even think they deserve to be in the Europa League. MUFC all the way.

Posted 13:01 26th November 2009

Julian James (Manchester United fan) says...

who does fergie think hes watching when MAN U are not good enough this year to win the title or champions leauge..HE HAS ROSE TINTED GLASSES , Look as Chelse or Arsenal wake up fergie and spend some money!!!!!!!!!!!!

Posted 12:55 26th November 2009

Stuart Cullimore (Liverpool fan) says...

He's abosolutely right we didnt deserve to go through can't have any complaints there, and certainly don't want or expect his sympathy, im not a Gary Neville fan but I respect him as a player and the fact he speaks what he really thinks. Liverpool fans had no sympathy when Man United went out a few years ago and dont believe they wanted or expected any.

Posted 12:53 26th November 2009
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