Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville says Manchester United's recent draw at Leeds is a potential stepping stone, but warns head coach Michael Carrick that results must improve by January.

Manchester United currently sit 13th in the Premier League after earning seven points from their first seven matches. Following a 1-1 draw against Leeds at Elland Road, pundit Gary Neville described the performance as a potential stepping stone for head coach Michael Carrick. However, Neville cautioned that the club must show significant improvement in the coming weeks to avoid a difficult situation by the new year.

Performance and Tactical Adjustments

Despite extending their winless run across all competitions to six games, the performance against Leeds was noted as an improvement. Carrick implemented tactical changes that made the team more compact and defensively solid. Neville suggested that this approach, potentially utilizing players like Matheus Cunha and Marcus Rashford from the bench, could provide a blueprint for future matches.

League Standing and Expectations

United are currently five points behind fifth place, a position Neville identifies as the minimum requirement for the club to qualify for the Champions League. He emphasized that finishing outside the top five would be a significant disappointment, potentially leading to financial losses and difficulty in attracting new players. Neville highlighted upcoming matches against Bournemouth and Chelsea as crucial for the team's trajectory.

Midfield Development

Neville highlighted the importance of summer signing Carlos Baleba, who has started the last two matches following an ankle injury. The 21-year-old, signed from Brighton for £70 million, has provided added strength to the midfield alongside Andrey Santos. Neville stressed that keeping Baleba fit is critical for Carrick's tactical plans to make the team more difficult to play against.