Gary: United Were Underestimated

Gary Neville believes United's rivals paid the price of writing off the mighty Reds' chances before last season.

The Red Devils skipper, currently recovering after an ankle injury, declared that he felt himself extremely strong and hoped to be fit for the new season.

'I had an operation on my ankle about five to six weeks ago,' he said. 'I have been training really hard and feeling really strong and hoping I am fit for the start of the season because I am longing to play.

'I need to get fit as soon as possible because I love playing for Manchester United.'

And he firmly believes that playing for the club will be a very enviable thing next season as the Reds will boast a fantastic squad that will almost surely be strengthened even further by the arrival of Carlos Tevez.

'Nobody thought Manchester United would win the Premier League last season,' he said. 'But they underestimated us. They underestimated the knowledge and class of our manager.

'For two to three years we had been in suffering. At the start of the season we added Michael Carrick to our squad and lost Ruud van Nistelrooy. But Chelsea added Andriy Shevchenko and Michael Ballack.

'But the manager knew what he was doing over a period of two years in building a new team and now we are in a fantastic position.

'Last season we played the best football, the most attacking and entertaining football - and we deserved to win the trophy.

'I don't think a United fan could ever be as excited about the players, the team and about the way the club is, as today.'

Do you agree with him?