'They’ve ruined it': Gary Neville unhappy with Premier League side, as he calls for more excitement

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Gary Neville thinks one Premier League side is "boring" during matches, with their results becoming increasingly predictable

Gary Neville on punditry duty for Sky Sports in the game between Manchester City and West Ham in May 2023.
(Image credit: Getty Images)

Gary Neville has been left unhappy with one Premier League side, suggesting that they need to be more exciting in matches.

Neville's comments came while discussing the dominance of Manchester City on the Stick to Football podcast. The former Manchester United defender admitted that he didn't even watch Manchester City's 3-1 victory over Copenhagen in the Champions League on Tuesday, arguing that they're "boring".

"I didn’t switch Manchester City on, on Tuesday night," Neville said. "I felt a bit bored. 

Manchester City's Dutch defender #06 Nathan Ake, Manchester City's Norwegian striker #09 Erling Haaland and Manchester City's English defender #05 John Stones react during the UEFA Champions League round of 16, first-leg football match between FC Copenhagen and Manchester City in Copenhagen, Denmark, on February 13, 2024. (Photo by Liselotte Sabroe / Ritzau Scanpix / AFP) / Denmark OUT (Photo by LISELOTTE SABROE/Ritzau Scanpix/AFP via Getty Images) Premier League Gary Neville

City were comfortable 3-1 winners (Image credit: Getty Images)

"I saw a post from a Liverpool fan that said he watched every single one of Sir Alex Ferguson’s Manchester United games in the Champions League, because there was that feeling that there was always going to be excitement one way or the other – they’d lose, or they’d win and the game would be exciting. 

"You just can’t watch City – it’s almost like they’ve ruined it a little bit. To call City boring would be wrong, because the football they play is outstanding, but I actually thought they were boring – I found it difficult to watch them. Since Erling Haaland’s gone [with an injury] they’re a bit more imperfect."

Erling Haaland has since returned from the injury which kept him out for the majority of December and January, and the Norwegian got back among the goals against Everton last weekend, scoring twice in a 2-0 win. 

Manchester City's Norwegian striker #09 Erling Haaland celebrates after the UEFA Champions League round of 16, first-leg football match between FC Copenhagen and Manchester City in Copenhagen, Denmark, on February 13, 2024. (Photo by Mads Claus Rasmussen / AFP) (Photo by MADS CLAUS RASMUSSEN/AFP via Getty Images) Gary Neville Premier League

Neville thinks Haaland's return will have a big impact (Image credit: Getty Images)

His reintroduction to the side comes at a time when Manchester City have won their last 11 matches in a competitions - including being crowned FIFA Club World Cup champions - as Pep Guardiola challenges his side to secure back-to-back trebles. 

They still have plenty of tough tests to come in the Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup, though, with Liverpool leading the way in the table and an away trip to Luton Town in the Cup. 

Gary Neville was speaking on the Stick to Football podcast, brought to you by Sky Bet.

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Ryan Dabbs
Ryan Dabbs
Staff writer

Ryan is a staff writer for FourFourTwo, joining the team full-time in October 2022. He first joined Future in December 2020, working across FourFourTwo, Golf Monthly, Rugby World and Advnture's websites, before eventually earning himself a position with FourFourTwo permanently. After graduating from Cardiff University with a degree in Journalism and Communications, Ryan earned a NCTJ qualification to further develop as a writer while a Trainee News Writer at Future.