BBC SPORT | Football | Teams | Man Utd

Manchester United defender Gary Neville has warned that players' jobs could be on the line if they do not produce a trophy this season.

Neville admitted that the pressure was on the club's highly-paid stars to produce the goods following Arsenal's Double success last season.

United lost nine games last season to finish third in the Premiership behind Arsenal and Liverpool, and Neville fears that if his side cannot wrestle the title back from the Gunners the squad could be ripped apart.

Man Utd seal Rio deal

"We can't afford another trophyless season, all our jobs are on the line because of not winning a trophy," Neville told the Daily Express newspaper.

"We know what we have to do. The boss will not tolerate anything less than a major trophy this season."

Rio's debut chance

Neville also claimed that signing Rio Ferdinand would not necessarily guarantee success.

He pointed to last season and the fact that even though United splashed out on Ruud van Nistelrooy and Juan Sebastian Veron they still won nothing.

"I think when we signed Juan Veron and Ruud van Nistelrooy last year everyone said this is it, we're going to win the European Cup because we've spent �50m," he said.

Ferdinand signs for Manchester United
Neville says the signing of Ferdinand does not guarantee success

"This year we've spent a lot of money on one defender, but Rio Ferdinand is not going to make us into the best defence in the Premier League.

"We've all got to work hard as a team and make sure we help him and he helps us," Neville told MUTV.

"We should not expect too much too soon. It's a big price tag and everybody takes time to settle in at this club.

"It's not an easy place to play football."

Last season United used 14 different centre-half pairings and Neville feels this contributed to their problems.

Yorke move looks likely

"To finish outside the top two was devastating but we got what we deserved," Neville added.

"At times we were shambolic but if you lose nine games you don't deserve anything."

Neville, who is still recovering from a broken bone in his foot, said one of the most important issues was to find the right centre-back pairing this season and stick with it.

"On paper everything looks perfect for us to have a good season, but we need to make sure we gel as a team," Neville added.


	Links to more Man Utd stories