Gary Neville advises Wan-Bissaka to ignore comparisons to Liverpool ace

Gary Neville has words of advice for Manchester United right-back Aaron Wan-Bissaka.

Neville is arguably the best right-back to have played for Manchester United, and prior to Wan-Bissaka’s arrival last year, the club really struggled to find an adequate replacement for their former captain.

From completely nullifying Raheem Sterling in last season’s Manchester derby, Wan-Bissaka has shown time and time again why we think he is the best tackler of all full-backs in the Premier League.

But people will always look at the champions and make comparisons. Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold plays a wing back role and is renowned for getting forward and creating goals.

While that’s not Wan-Bissaka’s style as a right-back many would like to see that area of his game improve.

Neville, however, believes that AWB should put all his efforts into preventing goals rather than trying to create them.

Do you think Ole would agree?

Speaking live on Sky Sports (quotes via The Mirror), Neville said: “Aaron Wan-Bissaka should focus on his defending and become a brilliant Manchester United full back defensively, who keeps clean sheets.

“That’s No.1, and he should focus on that.

“The idea that you are going to make Aaron Wan-Bissaka into Trent Alexander-Arnold or Kyle Walker is never going to happen.

“So let’s concentrate on how he can support Manchester United becoming a winning team again. There is more than one way to win a football match.

“The idea that because Trent Alexander-Arnold and Kyle Walker are two of the most outstanding attacking full backs in Europe means that Manchester United have to have one of the most outstanding attacking full backs in Europe is not the case.

“I’ve seen Branislav Ivanovic, Cesar Azpolicueta be successful in the Premier League over the past five, 10 years and they have been very different full backs to the ones I’ve mentioned.

“Manchester United have invested £50million in him, so rather than try and change him they have to work with what he does.

“It’s a bit of an old fashioned approach because nowadays full backs are expected to be wingers, score goals, set up goals, take free kicks and penalties. This is a little bit of a throwback. I don’t think we have to try and say he needs to be something different.

“He’s an outstanding defensive right back – he could potentially be part of a back three – he’s a better defender than some of the attacking full backs, work on that.”

AWB is expected to start today in United’s season opener against his former club Crystal Palace.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will demand a solid defensive display from all his defenders, but AWB is likely to be up against former team-mate Wilfried Zaha, who scored last week and is renowned as one of the Premier League’s trickiest wingers.

Three points is a must for us later today.

Read more: Ed Woodward transfer update won’t ease frustrations over United’s lack of spending this summer

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