Neville: Sloppy Football Costs us

Gary Neville admits United didn’t deserve to get anything out of Besiktas’ visit to Old Trafford on Wednesday night.

The Turkish champions won 1-0 courtesy of a deflected Rodrigo Tello strike, but Neville says the real reason the Reds lost was because of United’s poor showing in the final third.

“We didn’t convert our chances, the goalkeeper made a few good saves, some of our decision-making was poor, the last pass often wasn’t good, some of the crossing wasn’t up to scratch… the play in the last third wasn’t decisive enough and we didn’t take our chances,” Neville told MUTV.

“Usually we’d expect to score a goal in 96 minutes of football at Old Trafford but we didn’t do that.

"In general, I thought we were good – Macheda and Welbeck did very well with their link-up play in the first half and we should have created more from that. We just didn’t do enough to score that goal.”

Neville, who’s been missing from recent domestic action because of a three-game ban, says it’s important to forget Wednesday’s disappointment and look ahead to United’s forthcoming fixtures.

“We’ve got a few big games coming up now so we have to move on. “It was important for me [to play 90 minutes against Besiktas]. I’ve been fit throughout the period of my suspension so it’s been frustrating not being able to play. I’d have liked to have come back into a winning team, though.”

The Reds now travel to Germany on 8 December knowing a draw or a win against Wolfsburg will be enough to secure top spot in Group B.

“We need to go to Wolfsburg and get a result,” Neville said.

“Is top spot important? It depends. You can finish second and get a favourable draw or you can finish top and get a disastrous draw – that’s what can happen in the Champions League and this year the competition seems particularly topsy-turvy.

“I think it will be difficult whoever we get drawn against in the next round, but for our pride and the way we like to do things we want to finish top.”