Neville: Why I feel sad for Sanchez

In the latest Super 6 Class of '92 Diary, Gary Neville explains why he feels "sad" for Alexis Sanchez and discusses Manchester United's issues

Why I feel sad for Sanchez

People keep asking me about this player and that player, I must have been asked about 10 different players at Manchester United - what's going on with Anthony Martial, with Paul Pogba, Alexis Sanchez, Luke Shaw - the answer is I haven't got a clue!

I was at the game on Wednesday night against Valencia. I saw them huddle in the middle of the pitch - that's the first time I've seen a Manchester United team do a huddle in the middle of the pitch before a game at Old Trafford so I was expecting to see an explosion after that - and I didn't.

Sanchez looks like a shadow of the player United signed, he looks like a shadow of the player Arsenal had. Alexis Sanchez has been a warrior of a player to watch over the last few years and you don't become a bad player overnight.

The idea that he now looks the way he does, more than anything I feel sad. When you see a player struggling like that it's just sad, you know that player has been a great player over the last few years.

He's a fighter, he chases back, he's a hurrier and a scurrier, he's everything you want to see on a football pitch. I expected him to hit the ground running this season and I've just got no answer for it.

The atmosphere against Valencia was linked to the game, it felt like a game of possession from box to box with no goals at either end. There was no real quality at either end from either team. It was a bit of a nothing game, both teams played decent football at times but not much happened in either box.

I was in the ground, you can't blame the fans, they were trying to have a go but it was a bit flat mainly because the game on the pitch was a bit flat - it's a natural reaction to what we were watching.

Newcastle game is must-win for United

Newcastle could be the right team to play - Newcastle fans won't like that and they could come to Old Trafford and win, but United have to win on Saturday.

I don't think it'll be a classic because Newcastle will come to be resilient, be compact, defend deep and play on the counter-attack.

They'll try and play on the anxiety that may be created if United don't score in the first half an hour and I'm sure that'll be a tactic.

I suspect it'll be tight, the important thing is for United to get an early goal as that will disrupt the whole plan and Newcastle will have to come out and go for it a bit more.

Credit: Skysports.com