Neville defends Mourinho's style of football at United

Negative, parking the bus, these are just a few of the words used to criticise Mourinho's tactics since becoming Manchester United manager.

However, Neville, who played for the 'Red Devils for 19 seasons, believes there was a period under Ferguson that was just as bad.

He told the English newspaper: "Under David Moyes, Louis van Gaal and Jose Mourinho it's been suggested the football is not vey good.

"And every game that goes by Sir Alex Ferguson's football gets better and better because you forget the bad games, the 1-0s, the horrible defeats.

"I think we’ve become a bit idealistic about what the football was at times under Sir Alex. I was there for a large part of it, 21 years, and saw every game. 

"Yes, it was mesmerising at times, but from 2003 to 2006 it wasn’t good. I played in that team, it wasn’t good. We weren’t playing at a high level. We were pretty average. 

"So you think about this three-year period or so now and what are you measuring against? Sir Alex’s 1999 or the 2003-2006 period when the football was pretty poor and Jose Mourinho was at Chelsea and destroying us?"

For Neville, the key rests with how Manchester City have dominated this season, finishing 19 points ahead of their city rivals.

He continued: "I think what City have done this season – the way they’ve done it and the points difference – that’s the pressure. That there’s this almost complete, pure football being played at City and United play differently but then United knew that when they appointed Jose Mourinho and City knew it when they appointed Pep Guardiola.

"These two managers have been at Real Madrid and Barcelona and both won leagues there. Ultimately at the end of next season if Pep wins another league that will be a big problem over a three year period but if Jose was to win the league next year you could actually argue Jose has done the better job. Next season will be critical."