Neville looks for United improvement

Gary Neville admits the Manchester United players know they “have a lot to put right next season”.

The United skipper concedes some “unforgivable” results in the Champions League and disappointment in the Premiership means the team need to up their game.

United did have a number of significant injuries at the start of the season but Neville believes that is no excuse.

He has, however, stressed the importance of finishing second in the Premiership and – unlike the previous two seasons – not having to play a Champions League qualifier.

He told Manchester United Radio: “Second wasn’t our ambition or our aim, but towards the end of the season it was the best we could do. It gives us a better chance of starting next season with good preparation.

“We wanted to avoid coming back early for a qualification match in Europe and we’ve done that.

“There is the World Cup that will take away everyone’s attention from club football, but the players must have it in the back of their minds that we have a lot to put right next season.

“However, there is a good feeling about the place that we can do that. We’re positive about next season.”

Looking back on last season, Neville admitted failing to qualify for the knock-out stages of the Champions League was the biggest blow.

He added: “Without doubt that was the big disappointment of the season. The game in Benfica was always going to be a difficult match, and I think, really, we’d lost it before that by drawing at home to Villarreal and Lille and then losing away to Lille.

“The Lille results were unforgivable, even though there were reasons for them; we were decimated by injuries to four or five key players.

“I’m not making excuses, that is just the situation we were dealing with at the time. We suffered badly from it; our form and confidence just went.

“We’ve seen with Liverpool and Arsenal that you don’t have to be at the peak of your own league to get to the final. Next year we’ll be going for the title because that is the bread and butter of any team, but we need to have a really good shot at Europe.”

Neville insists he has no fears about having to fight for his place if manager Alex Ferguson signs a new defender in the summer.

He said: “That spurs you on. Maybe the manager will bring in another right back – he’ll want two players in every position like all the top four or five sides want.

“That’s the competition you have to be up against at Manchester United. It’s the same for every player and I am no different. If you’re not playing at your best you will be out of the team.”