Neville: Mkhitaryan is ‘lucky’ to play for Man United
The Man United legend has little sympathy for struggling Armenian playmaker Henrikh Mkhitaryan
Phil Neville says Henrikh Mkhitaryan is “lucky” that he gets to play for Manchester United.
The Armenia international has endured a largely unhappy 18 month spell at Old Trafford following a £30m move to Old Trafford from Bundesliga giants Borussia Dortmund in the 2016 summer transfer window.
The 28-year-old made a slow start to his Manchester United career but came into his own in the second half of the 2016-17 season to help the Red Devils win the League Cup and the Europa League.
Mkhitaryan impressed in the opening weeks of the current campaign with five assists in successive victories over West Ham, Swansea City and Leicester City.
However, the Armenian’s goals and assists have since dried up and the attacking midfielder hasn’t started a Premier League game since a 1-0 loss to defending champions Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
Mkhitaryan has been linked with a potential return to Dortmund or a switch to Italian giants Inter Milan in recent weeks with his time at Manchester United supposedly nearing its end.
Former Manchester United defender Neville warned Mkhitaryan that he shouldn’t take for granted the chance to play at Old Trafford.
“There’s a lot of criticism of Jose’s treatment of Henrikh Mkhitaryan but he ultimately didn’t deliver when he’s played. He’s not unlucky, he’s lucky he gets to play for United,” Neville told Sky Sports.
“Under Sir Alex, if I didn’t perform I wasn’t in the team. People need to stop sugar-coating it. If you don’t perform then you don’t get in the team or a new contract, it’s not Jose being personal, it’s business.”
Mkhitaryan has scored 13 times in 58 appearances in all competitions during his spell at Manchester United so far.
