Neville On City, United Seasons

Gary Neville insists fourth and fifth is not acceptable for both Jose Mourinho and Pep Guardiola this season.

United and City played out a goalless draw at the Etihad on Thursday night as both managers look for a top-four place in the Premier League in their first seasons at their respective clubs.

Last season was the first in 24 that there were no Manchester clubs in the top three, and though that could be repeated again this season, Neville is confident both clubs are on the up.

He said on the Gary Neville Podcast: "I have no doubts these two will get into the top three in the next couple seasons. I think both managers, if you'd asked them at the start of the season, would be disappointed with where they are now, with these points.

"Both probably recognise the size of the job more than when they first came, maybe felt that investment in the summer would have had greater impact and pushed them to the top of the league.

"But they've fallen short. City have fallen short defensively I think in general, and United have fallen short in those really disappointing home draws where they should have killed teams off.

"Both these managers have been around the block, they're clinical and ruthless enough and are not going to wait. They are not going to give these players chances.

"The ones that have disappointed them will be gone, and there will be some turnaround in the summer in both squads to get them where they want to be, because both of these managers want to be number one.

"Four and five is not acceptable for Mourinho and Guardiola."

It may not have been the campaign they had imagined, but Neville says Mourinho and Guardiola would have already clearly identified where they need to improve next term.

With City, Neville believes the squad is beginning to get younger in the right way, while United are playing the way the manager will want, but perhaps without the perfect 'Mourinho' personnel at his disposal.

"I am more optimistic for both clubs, with the change of managers. I'm seeing a transition from an old team for City.

"We've said how are they going to replace Hart, Kompany, Toure, Aguero. He is starting to with the likes of Jesus, Stones, De Bruyne, Sterling, they're a younger team.

"I still look at the Man Utd squad and think of it as a concoction of different manager's players, and see that is it not fully a Jose Mourinho squad yet, but it is showing Jose Mourinho qualities. He's getting that resilience."

Credit: Skysports.com