"Gary Neville Gets Choked Up Over Long-Awaited Manchester United Moment He'd Been Yearning For"

GARY NEVILLE has admitted he became “emotional” after Manchester United’s opening goal during the Manchester derby.

watched from the Sky Sports commentary box as courtesy of second-half goals from and .

Gary Neville has admitted he became ’emotional’ after Man Utd’s opener against Man CityCredit: Getty Bryan Mbeumo netted the opener in the derby on Saturday after a lightning quick counter-attackCredit: EPA

After three winless games prior to the clash, it was the perfect start for after taking on the head coach role, which he will hold until the end of the season.

The scoreline ended up being quite flattering as United had three goals ruled out for offside, hit the woodwork twice and found a stubborn obstacle to beat.

But in the 65th minute headed a City free-kick away from the box before Mbeumo, 26, tapped the ball around a pressing opponent and into the path of Bruno Fernandes.

The United captain then raced forward with support from Mbeumo through the middle, to his right and Dorgu, 21, to his left in a lightning quick counter-attack.

Fernandes, 31, then slipped the ball to Mbeumo, who in his first game back after the Africa Cup of Nations with , fired the ball into the bottom corner in front of a raucous Stretford End.

The goal had all the echoes of the great United sides of the past – following a week where there had been a raging debate around what the term “United DNA” truly meant.

Neville, who was a mainstay in the last great Red Devils sides under Sir , spoke about the goal on the Gary Neville Podcast after the game and confessed how it made him “quite emotional”.

He said: “I got quite emotional when that goal went in off Mbeumo’s because to be honest with you I thought, ‘Oh my God, that’s what I have been asking for!’

“It’s what everyone in this ground’s been asking for. We know what it looks like. We don’t have to win. I keep saying that. There’s no right to win at this club.

“We might lose the next 10 matches. I don’t care. But the intent to do the right thing is there.

“Those players have set themselves a standard. A standard in attitude, in aggression, in positivity when they’re playing with intent and playing through the lines. You cannot drop below that.”

Neville has been a heavy critic of the United played under , who was sacked at the start of the month after a blistering attack on club chiefs in his post-Leeds press conference.

The 50-year-old added: “I’m just happy because I don’t have to come on to a podcast at the end of a game and talk about c*** that I’ve watched and Manchester United fans booing.

“I’m so happy to see something which resembles what this is.

“It is not a time to get giddy even though Manchester United fans should celebrate until their hearts are content tonight and have the night of their lives because these moments are rare.”

Neville had lamented how he had become “bored” at times watching United under Amorim.

The City battering and results elsewhere saw United finally take the chance to move into the top five after failing to capitalise with frustrating draws in the last three games.

But United will face an even tougher test when they travel down to London to face league leaders Arsenal.

The gulf between the two sides currently sits at 15 points.

Carrick previously masterminded a 3-2 win over Mikel Arteta’s Gunners during his previous spell as interim manager in 2021, though the north London side have come on leaps and bounds since then.

Former Man Utd midfielder ahead of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Ruud van Nistelrooy.

United have 16 games remaining of their season after being knocked out of the FA Cup by Brighton.