‘Really good performance’ – Gary Neville delivers surprise verdict on Manchester United’s 2-1 defeat to Aston Villa

Gary Neville has delivered a surprising verdict on Manchester United’s 2-1 defeat to Aston Villa on Sunday. 

Morgan Rogers scored a stunning goal to put Villa ahead, but the visitors quickly restored parity on the stroke of half-time through Matheus Cunha. 

Rogers struck again after the break, and United were unable to equalise for a second time.

However, Neville was happy with his former club’s performance and appreciated that manager Ruben Amorim changed his tactics. 

He said: “I thought it was a really good performance, but the details of the two goals have cost them.

“Now that’s going to continue to happen whilst they don’t have the likes of Harry Maguire and Matthijs De Ligt, and they don’t have players that would make them a lot stronger.

“I don’t think they are anywhere near good enough to get into that top three, but what I have seen in these last two games is a couple of things.

One, the manager has changed. Quite obviously, the system that he said he would never change – the five or the three at the back, the two in midfield, the two wing backs and the three up front – has been thrown out of the window in the last two matches.

“That’s a good thing.”

Apart from the result, the injury to captain Bruno Fernandes is hugely concerning. 

The Portuguese has started all 17 Premier League matches this season, bagging five goals and seven assists.

The extent of his injury is unknown at the moment, but he will miss the Boxing Day encounter with Newcastle United at Old Trafford. 

United are also without Matthijs de Ligt and Harry Maguire due to fitness issues, while Kobbie Mainoo missed the Villa trip with a calf problem. 

Bryan Mbeumo, Amad Diallo and Noussair Mazraoui are playing at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON and are set to miss at least three matches for the Red Devils.

Stats from Transfermarkt.