Philip Neville Interview

First Published: Nov 12, 1999

Manchester United defender Phillip Neville is to start for England tomorrow on their problem left side.

The United player will play at wing back in a system that will see five players in midfield and he spoke about his thoughts before the Euro 2000 play-off with Scotland at length with the press yesterday.

Are you a bit lonely in the squad, Phil, without any other fullbacks?

"Not really. There's plenty of players that can play in that position in the squad, you know, plenty of versatile players, so it's not something really I've looked at. I've read a lot about it, but it's not something really I've looked at."

You've talked in the past about your versatility, how it can help, can't help sometimes. Is this a situation where it does help, really?

"Yes, I think so. I think certainly this week, you know, I think if I was going to play I would probably be playing in fullback, so it's something that I've been concentrating on, and you know with me being able to play it right or leftback, it gives the manager a couple of options."

How about a wingback?

"Yes, I came on against Belgium and played wingback, and I'm comfortable there as well. So, you know, wherever I'm asked to play, you know, I won't moan, I'll just get on with it."

Do you feel yourself becoming more comfortable at international level? In the last couple of times you've come on, you've really come on and done extremely well.

"Yes, I think the manager has given me a lot of confidence. I think every game, since he's taken charge, he's kept me involved, he's played me in every game, whether coming on as sub or starting. So that breeds confidence, and it's the same for United this season. I've had a really good side and I think I've done well. So I think games breed confidence, which hopefully brings good performance."

You mentioned the manager and confidence. He seems to have brought something extra out of you. When he talks to us he's always mentioning you, he talks about the way you played at Tournoi. That seems to have stuck in his mind.

"Yes, he does go on about that Tournoi, I think he was a commentator probably at the time, and so probably the best couple of games for England were in Tournoi, so he's trying to get that out of me again and he's played me in every game, he's given me a lot confidence. I think when I came on against Belgium, I think I did okay, and I'm really looking forward to the game."

What side do you prefer to play on, left or right?

"It's difficult, really, because, see, as a wingback I think I like playing on the right, as a right wingback, because the emphasis is to get on the outside, and as a fullback I like playing it leftback, because, you know, I can support the play rather than having to play like a winger."

This means you're definitely going to be in as left wingback, then, does it?

"Does it? Will he play me wingback? The boss is going to name his team on Saturday, so wherever I'm going to play, I don't mind."

In terms of the status that you now enjoy, how do you approach the game differently, how do you join up with an England squad, because, without being disrespectful, there may have been times in the past where, if you're looking at a squad, you may have just sneaked in, whereas now with a manager, with Kevin, he seems to think an awful lot of you?

"Yes, I think that has given me a lot of confidence, you know. In the past, you know, I've been just pleased to be in the squad, where now I meet up, and, you know, I'm more confident how I'm playing nowadays. I train all week and I think to myself I've got a great chance of playing, you know, since Kevin Keegan came in as manager, and it's probably that confidence that's been taken on to the field this season. You know, I'm probably lucky in the fact that he's come in and placed so much faith in me, really."

What have you learnt in the Champions League specifically playing against these internationals week in, week out in Europe?

" I think the main thing you learn is concentration as a defender. You switch off for one moment, like in Marseilles, I was cruising, really, didn't even look like scoring and we switch off and they score, and that's what continental teams do against you; you switch off and they score. You can be doing well in Europe, and, you know, a split second you can be 2-0 down and that's the experience that we've learnt over the couple of years that we've been playing in the Champions League."

"Are they strict on tackling or anything like that, so you have to sort of jocky players or nick the ball, rather than slide in?

" I think there's been three or four games this year when I've played in Europe and gone through a game without making a tackle. As a defender that's strange, because you like to be tackling, you feel that's part of your job, but you come off the field and you've not made a tackle."

Why is that?

" I think it's more about interceptions, and you know, staying on your feet, making sure that you don't make mistakes, and not diving in, whereas in the English game it's a lot faster. Probably if you do get into a tackle, you know, you can get back up and get back at it, whereas in Europe, once they've passed you they've gone and they've scored."

You obviously know David Beckham and Paul Scholes better than most. Should we be worried that they might lose it at Hampden with the crowd in particular getting at them and the players, and the Scottish players, trying to wind them up? Paul with his ending off, David with his hot temper?

" I think I'd be very surprised if their players tried to provoke David or Paul. I think trying to stop David itself is a feat. I don't think they'll probably have enough time to try and provoke him. In terms of the temperament, I don't think -- you know, apart from Paul's sending off against Sweden, I don't think that's ever been a problem with both players. I don't think David has been sent off in his career at Man United. So I don't think he has -- I think all great players do have their fiery temperament, but that's what makes them such great players and I'm sure on Saturday, if David and Paul are playing, their temperament won't let them down."

Did Paul's sending off surprise you guys? People who know him very well, play with him every week at club level, has it surprised you, sent off playing for England, and he managed to get himself suspended from the European Cup final? Did that come as a surprise to his team mates?

" I think if you see Paul in training, he doesn't -- you know, every tackle, he tackles as if it's a Cup final, and it's no surprise, really, that every now and again he does pick up the odd suspension, because he's such a committed player and, you know, there's no better tackler at Man United than Paul Scholes, and every now and again, if you tackle as much as Paul does, you're bound to mistime the odd tackle."

Even you Manchester boys must have been a bit surprised when he went in that early with such a devastating effect in the Sweden game?

"I think he was disappointed with the sending off against Sweden but, you know, I think he was just trying to, you know, raise the tempo, trying to get the crowd going, because the boss at United always says, you know, it's not a goal that sometimes gets the crowd going, it can be a good tackle or a bad tackle."

Nine times out of ten with your club you go into the game as favourites, and this game you're definitely going into the game as favourites. How difficult is it in your experience to stop getting overconfident when you're reading all the time people are telling you you're going to win?

" I think the thing is don't read anything about it, because you can get overconfident, and if you start believing what people are writing about you, then that's when you fall. You know, I think people are saying that we are favourites to win this game but, you know, we've watched games of the Scottish teams, and they do give 110 per cent and they have got quality in there, so we're not underestimating them by any stretch of the imagination."

What do you know, from having watched them? Who have you thought he's playing well, and he's, you know?

" I think they've got a good mid-field, the three mid-field are good players and the front two, just run the socks off all game and they won't give the defenders a minute's peace. So I think they've got a great team spirit, you can tell that by the way they play, the way that they're hard to beat, and the results they've got over the past couple of years prove that."

You'll need to make a few tackles this time, do you think, it won't be a game where you don't make any tackles?

"Yes, I think it will be a typical Derby game sort of thing, where there'll be a couple of tackles flying early on, I would have thought the first 20 minutes will be played at an unbelievable pace, but you know, there's enough quality on the field for it to be a good game as well."

Have you played against Craig Burley before?

"Yes."

How have you done against him, because you could come head to head down that side?

"Yes, he's -- I first played against him for Chelsea, you know, and he was a good mid-fielder for Chelsea. I think since he's gone back to Scotland he's got probably a more important role at Celtic, probably a more influential player, and he looks to be playing some of the best football of his career, so he'll certainly be one to watch with his late runs into the box, I would have thought."

Going back to Paul Scholes, was he down after that sending off? Did the United coach have to do a job on him at all, or did he sail through it?

" I think it was lucky it came at the end of the season, he didn't have to play another match after that, he came back from pre-season and nothing was really said, you know. There was six weeks probably after the Sweden game and it was probably all forgot about, so that probably helped. If he had had to play a game a couple of weeks after that it may have been a bit harder for him, but nothing has really been mentioned since then, really."

Is it right that the manager came out, your manager, after the draw was made, came out into training and said, "I've got to announce that Scotland have been given a bye"?

"Yes, Scotland as well."

But you had a good go back, I understand?

" Yes, for the weeks building up to it it's been England versus the rest of the world, and it's just been little fun games like that. I think that the reserve team coach is Scots as well. So there's been a lot of banter, and it's probably one of the reasons why we don't want to get beat."

No pranks in particular played on Fergy, then?

" No, not really. I think afterwards, if the game goes well, there will be a lot more stick going along."

He says he's going to work to the hilt?

" It wouldn't surprise me."

When people go on about the atmosphere at Hampden and coping with it, the passion and everything, when you've played in the European games in the stadiums you've played in, with the other Manchester United players, it shouldn't be a problem to cope with?

" Hopefully, the experience will help us, but I don't think any of the Man United players have ever witnessed a Hampden Park game against Scotland, so it will be something new to us. But hopefully the experience that we've gained, and the experience that the other lads in the squad have gained will help us in trying to deal with the atmosphere."

Were there any Scots in the rest of the world team?

"The reserve team manager turned out once."

How did that go? Did you lot tend to win?

"Yes, I think they've won one and we've won one, but you know, as long as a Scott did score we weren't bothered, really."

Just going back to the two formations, the four and the three, do you feel more comfortable with either, in a game like this, when you know there are likely to be two attackers, as is often the case?

"Yes, I think, you know, we played three at the back with Glen Hoddle, four at the back normally under Terry Venables, and under Kevin Keegan we've been playing a four as well. So we're used to both systems and there's not been much change in the number of players that have played under the managers. So I think whichever system we manage to pick it will be all right."

Has it been a bit strange because everyone has been focusing on the fact it's Scotland, but the real prize is get to get to Euro 2000?

"I think that's the thing that's been missing, really. This is billed as a cup final, but at the end of the day, it's qualification for Euro 2000, and that's why probably the manager has been playing it down a little bit, really, because the main aim is to qualify for Euro 2000. The manager believes that we'll be there, and by getting there, we'll have to beat Scotland."

It would be a bit strange if England, as the European Cup holders, actually haven't got to the European championships.

"Yes, it would be strange, yes. But I think with the form that we've shown in the group, you know, if we don't qualify, then it's all really our own fault, nobody else's."

Do you think it would have been easier had you not got Scotland, had you got another team?

"No, I don't think so. I think it was a draw that everyone wanted, all the lads were talking about. They wanted Scotland, and, you know, it's such a big game, and hopefully the big game will bring the best out of us."

You actually wanted Scotland, then?

"Yes, certainly all the Man United lads were rooting for Scotland."

Was it really because it was a big game, or they thought they were the easiest opposition?

"No, I think it was because it's a game that should be played more regularly than what it is, I think. We've never experienced one, and it's a game that hopefully will bring the best out of us."

Would you say that Scotland were one of the easier teams to have drawn?

"No, I would not. I would say there's a lot more easier teams in the draw than Scotland. I think they beat Germany this year. They've played well against the top teams, so it's certainly not the easiest draw by any stretch."

Where will your brother be?

"I think he'll be watching it at home."

Have you played Scotland before?

" Not in Euro '96."

You have not played them at under 21 level?

"Under 15s, under 16s."

Against any of the guys that are there now, do you know?

"No, I don't think so. I scored the winner at Ibrox under 15s."

What was the score?

" 1 nil."

Good goal? Run us through it, as we normally say.

"It was a header at the near post. I was a centre back at the time."

Who crossed?

" Stephen Hughes, I think, Arsenal."

What year would that be?

"'91."

Many people there?

"10,000, Ibrox, yes."

I bet they were happy?

" Yes."

How many goals have you scored for United?

" Two."

So you've scored two goals in England and one in Scotland?

"Yes."

What's the punishment going to be at Old Trafford for winning? Double sessions?

" Probably, yes. I think if Scotland win he'll definitely have his kilt on, but apart from that -- being a manager he can do what he wants, I suppose, and as players he can always fine us or sack us, probably, if we score."