Gary Neville has assessed the state of play in the Champions League race as Villa battle Manchester United, Chelsea and Liverpool
Gary Neville has been speaking about Michael Carrick and Benjamin Sesko
Gary Neville(Image: Sky Sports)
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Gary Neville has backed Manchester United to overtake Aston Villa in the Champions League race.
Fourth-placed United are now just three points behind third-placed Villa in the Premier League, after beating Everton 1-0 on Monday night.
While the Red Devils have won five and drawn one of their last six matches under Michael Carrick, Villa have stumbled, winning only two of their last six matches, drawing twice and losing twice.
Villa are also still chasing silverware in the Europa League too, having reached the knockout stages, while United can focus purely on the Premier League - and Neville believes that will be a factor in the final standings.
Speaking after their victory over Everton, Neville said on Sky Sports: “They’ve (United) got an incredible opportunity to finish in the top four. I think they will.
“The other teams are playing in Europe, they’ve got distractions. United haven’t got any distractions.
“I just think they’re now starting to get over the line in games where they wouldn’t have done before.
“I think they could finish third, I really do, I think they could finish third.
“I think I said a couple of weeks ago I thought Villa might just get pulled back a little bit.
“These teams have got European football in front of them and that’s a big distraction and Manchester United don’t have that and I think they’re in a decent place.”
“They’ve hit a really good run. I do think they’ll finish third or fourth,” he added.
“I’ve probably said at times Manchester United have no chance of finishing in the Champions League, but this is a bizarre season, teams are dropping points.
“Chelsea dropped points, Villa dropped points. I think United get there now.”
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