Neville: Nobody breaks into elite

Gary Neville insists the likes of Chelsea will never break into the top echelon of clubs.

Gary Neville insists the likes of Chelsea will never break into the top echelon of clubs in world football.

Having amassed countless medals during over a decade in the Manchester United side, Neville has become part of the club's rich history.

And it is a folklore that he believes current Premiership champions Chelsea, and other clubs with grand ambitions, will never be able to match.

"I'm not naive enough to think there is only Man United," said Neville in an interview published in the Manchester United Opus.

"Barcelona, Real Madrid, Juventus, Milan and Bayern Munich have more than enough right to suggest they're at the very top of the game, with United and Liverpool.

"Those clubs are the ones with the real tradition and history and power. They have the immense following.

"Others can try, but nobody breaks into that. And they never will.

"The biggest clubs can have bad seasons, bad decades even, but they will never be abandoned or forgotten. That might be seen as me having a go at others, but it's the reality."

Neville also revealed he does not expect another club to emulate United's Treble-winning feat of 1999.

He added: "I don't think there will be another Treble-winning team and if there is, good luck to the side that does it because they will have one hell of a time.

"I'm saying that as part of a team that hopes to do it again, but also as somebody who knows what it takes.

"The Treble will be a freak. I just can't see it being repeated."