Advertisement

Gary Neville not expecting Manchester City domination

Former Manchester United defender Gary Neville believes that Manchester City will struggle to match the era of success enjoyed by his former club.

Manchester: Former Manchester United defender Gary Neville believes that Manchester City will struggle to match the era of success enjoyed by his former club.
City snatched the title from Sir Alex Ferguson`s men in dramatic fashion in May, with Sergio Aguero scoring an injury-time winner against QPR to hand Roberto Mancini`s men first place on goal difference, However, despite witnessing City`s first league championship win since 1968, Neville thinks it will be difficult for the Etihad Stadium outfit to repeat the triumph on a frequent basis. "Very rarely does a team run away with it," he said. "It`s a tough league to win and the idea that a team will go on and dominate, it`s too early to start speculating about that.” "Manchester United have done it through the `90s and last ten years, Liverpool did it in the 1970s and 1980s. It`s very difficult to dominate over 15 to 20 years.” "We will see what happens next year. The easiest thing to say, and I`ve heard it a lot of times before, is that City will dominate.” "If City had lost the league on the last day people would have been saying United would dominate. It happens every year, the sort of up and down reaction we get. The reality is that there will always be a challenge to whoever will be champions." Neville also expressed his belief that his former club will bounce back strongly next season, as they seek to reclaim their title from their fierce local rivals. "I think Manchester United will be up there again. I don`t think anyone is kidding themselves over that," he added. "[Sir Alex Ferguson] being there obviously helps because he knows full well what it`s been like to succeed, but also what failure has tasted like in this last 20 years - you can`t win the league every year.” "The group of players that are there are also experienced and have been round the block, so they know it is [about] fine lines - you can`t win every single game all the time and you will have disappointments.” "It`s how you respond to that. All clubs have aspirations and Manchester United are no different. You realise that you are competing with other clubs and you can`t be arrogant about that." Goal.com