Gary Neville: ‘I love Wout Weghorst!’ | OneFootball

Former Manchester United defender Gary Neville has praised Wout Weghorst for the job he is doing for the team and believes his United teammates “will love him”.

Speaking on the Gary Neville Podcast, the Sky Sports pundit said:

“I love Wout Weghorst! We shouldn’t laugh but there were times today… you have to admire first and foremost that Erik ten Hag has picked him in every single match and I asked Ten Hag about that and he feels he brings something to the team and I can see why.

“Man Utd last season were playing – and there was all this debate with Ronaldo that they couldn’t press, they couldn’t win the ball back high up the pitch – that became something of a distraction to the whole squad. You have to be able to do that in the modern game. In transition he’s very good for Man Utd, he’s very good in transition, he’s very good defending set pieces, when they’re in position watching the spaces… so he’s doing a vital job for his team that have got a lot of attacking talent.

“If he could just get three or four goals to go with it, you’d say he’s doing a sensational job. He’s only got one so far and at times today, he should have got a couple of goals today. He’ll feel that himself. The chance he missed at the end, he collapsed onto his back and went, ‘come on, give me a break!’

“There will be fans that look at it and think, with a different ownership, Cristiano Ronaldo leaves and we’d expect the ownership to stand up and give the manager a high quality world class centre forward to replace him. The Glazers haven’t got any money, so they basically had to bring in a free loan. However, I think from a professional point of view I think he’s doing a really good job for Man Utd.

“For where he’s come from, what he’s been asked to do, every three days playing in some really tough games… I think the group will love him. I don’t know that but I suspect that group really appreciate him. It looked like Bruno Fernandes tried to lay him in at the end and Bruno likes to score for himself. He wanted to get Weghorst a goal. That’s a good thing to have in a dressing room – it builds spirit, it builds confidence in the group.”

Manchester United beat Leicester City 3-0 on Sunday which moves them three points behind Manchester City in second and five points behind league-leaders Arsenal, although the Gunners have played a game less.

Erik ten Hag’s side will host Barcelona on Thursday evening at Old Trafford in the second leg of their Europa League last-32 tie. The first leg finished 2-2 at the Camp Nou which leaves the second leg finely poised with the winners advancing through to the last 16 of the competition.

United then face Newcastle United in the Carabao Cup (EFL Cup) final on Sunday at Wembley Stadium.

The Red Devils have failed to win a major trophy since their Europa League win back in 2017 under José Mourinho.

Mark Marston | Get Football