GARY NEVILLE believes that an Italian former opposition side were “not clean”.
The former Manchester United star was part of Sir Alex Ferguson’s all-conquering side for the best part of two decades.
Neville and Co prided themselves on fitness and professionalism.
But after not being able to keep up with an unnamed opponent, the 48-year-old held suspicions.
Speaking on the Stick to Football podcast in association with SkyBet, Neville said: “I think there were a few teams we played against that weren’t clean, we thought it at the time.
“When you look back at what came out after, in cycling and other sports. We thought at the time something [wasn’t right]. Physically, we were fit, we weren’t drinkers.
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“I came off the pitch against an Italian team and thought, that’s not right.
“I know a couple of other lads in the mid-2000s thought the same thing.”
Also appearing on the show, Neville’s former team-mate Roy Keane also raised doubts of his own.
The Irishman, 52, added: “Against certain teams we’d be walking off absolutely shattered and I’d be looking at players I’d played against, a couple of Italian teams, and they looked like they’d not even played a match.”
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Neville won the Champions League twice during his Man Utd career, in 1999 and 2008.
Keane played a huge role in the Treble success during 1998-99, but he and Paul Scholes missed the Champions League final due to suspension.
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Asked whether he still has a horrible feeling about missing out, he said: “Yes, you do. The standard answer when people ask you is, ‘That’s life,’ but it’s heart-breaking when you miss a big game like that.
“Your mindset at the time is that you’re United, competing, and you’re convinced that you’ll get back to another final, but you don’t.
“Scholesy [Paul Scholes] did eventually get back to another one, I didn’t, and that’s the reality and brutal side of the game. You can’t be suspended now [for a final], just my luck that.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
