Gary Neville: Judgement Time For Reds

Former Manchester United favourite Gary Neville feels the current side's credentials will be thoroughly examined in the coming weeks as the focus returns to domestic football after the international break.

Louis van Gaal's side are at West Brom on Monday night before facing back-to-back showdowns with title favourites Chelsea and Manchester City.

Neville, speaking to ManUtd.com at the HMV Football Extravaganza in London that honoured Ryan Giggs' achievements in the game, is clear that the barometer for success will be provided soon, particularly by Jose Mourinho's Barclays Premier League leaders.

"I think it's an exciting time," he explained. "It's going to be an important few weeks but exciting as well. We'll find out in the next few weeks as the West Brom, Chelsea and City games are all massive ones that I'm going to be at and my thought is we'll find out exactly [the level] where the team is at this season.

"It's going to be tough for United to get into the Champions League and that would be a big achievement. At this moment in time, we're in the places in fourth spot but we'll find out where we're at in the next few weeks. We've not really played anybody really strong yet. I know Everton at home could be classed as being a tough game but, in terms of really tough matches, Chelsea and City will provide a real measure of where this team is at."

The ex-skipper believes United will have every chance of upsetting Chelsea at Old Trafford in the eagerly-awaited encounter on 26 October.

"I've watched a lot of City and Chelsea, and Chelsea are the best team by a long way," added Neville. "Make no mistake about that. But I'd like to think United are always the club that can beat a big team. Even in seasons when we weren't great, like in the mid-2000s, I always felt we could upset Arsenal's 'Invincibles' and Chelsea - I think Darren Fletcher scored one year when Mourinho was manager.

"I look at the game in two weeks' time and United will be up for it. Chelsea will have been in Europe that week and, for me, United will cause Chelsea big problems. It'll be their toughest game and Jose Mourinho would know that."

Credit: manutd.com