Former Manchester United captain Gary Neville is prepared to wait for his old club to challenge for top trophies as long as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer returns the right “principles” to Old Trafford.
United have not won the Premier League title since Sir Alex Ferguson retired in 2013, but Neville said he is happy to wait five years for another one as long as Solskjaer can get the club back on track by playing the right style of football and promoting young players to the first team.
“As long as the principles are right, play good football, bring the right players through, try and win as best you can, don’t give in, good attitude; for me I can wait for two, three, four, five years for the club to be successful — it isn’t a problem for me,” Neville said. “I lived through 20 years as a fan when I was growing up where the club wasn’t successful.
“I’m not in a rush I just want to see the right things happen and with Ole here as a coach there’s an opportunity for that to happen.”
Solskjaer is set to embark on a summer overhaul of his squad which could include as many as five new signings.
Sources have told ESPN FC that young British players like Swansea winger Daniel James, Newcastle midfielder Sean Longstaff and Crystal Palace full-back Aaron Wan-Bissaka are all on the list of potential targets and Neville has backed the Norwegian’s strategy after Jose Mourinho’s preference of spending heavily on more experienced stars.
“The club have always signed young, emerging British talent and I don’t think that should change,” Neville said. “It would seem to me that the club would like to go back down that route.
“I’m encouraged by the fact the club are giving opportunities to young players, even in these times because for me that’s something that’s part of Manchester United’s history — it’s what Manchester United is.
“You just have to sign the right players and give them the platform to perform and the belief and opportunity. I’m not in a rush with Manchester United, I don’t have to see them be successful in the next 10 minutes.”
After finishing sixth last season, United are facing a critical transfer window as they look to return to the Champions League in 12 months’ time. It is also a vital summer for Solskjaer, who has come under pressure following a run of results to end the campaign which included eights defeats from the final 12 games.
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