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Jose's right! Gary Neville backs Mourinho in Twitter rant at luxury stars like Mesut Ozil
MANCHESTER UNITED great Gary Neville has backed Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho over the debate about wingers who track back - by criticising the performance of Arsenal star Mesut Ozil.
Mourinho has emphasised the need for wide players who work hard defensively at Chelsea this season.
His philosophy resulted in allowing Juan Mata to leave for Old Trafford in January, and Neville believes the Blues boss is right.
Neville picked out the displays of Ozil and Cazorla during Arsenal's 2-0 loss to Bayern Munich last night as proof that the top teams can not afford to "carry luxuries in wide areas" in the big games.
The ex-United right-back also highlighted David Silva as at fault for Barcelona's second goal during their 2-0 victory over Manchester City on Tuesday.
"Some elements of football will never change," Neville tweeted. "In the biggest matches you cannot carry luxuries in wide areas. Silva when he went wide - Alves [scored].
"Cazorla and Ozil last night with [Philipp] Lahm and Rafinha. The modern full-backs are wingers, they need marking like a forward needs marking.
"You can get away with it in some games but the big games NO! What Jose is now getting from his widemen and Heynckes from Robben and Ribery last year is how it has to be.
"The idea of floating widemen is lovely but too much evidence it costs now versus the top full backs."
Some elements of football will never change! In the biggest matches you cannot carry luxuries in wide areas!Silva when he went wide- Alves
— Gary Neville (@GNev2) February 20, 2014
Cazorla and Ozil last night with Lahm and Rafinha! The modern Full backs are wingers they need marking like a forward needs marking!
— Gary Neville (@GNev2) February 20, 2014
You can get away with it in some games but the big games NO! What Jose is now getting from his widemen and Heynckes from R&R last year
— Gary Neville (@GNev2) February 20, 2014
Is how it has to be! The idea of floating widemen is lovely but too much evidence it costs now v top full backs!
— Gary Neville (@GNev2) February 20, 2014
Neville then responded to one fan who suggested that his argument indicates Arsene Wenger should have signed Ji-Sung Park rather than £42.5m star Ozil.
"Last RT: No, Ozil has to work like Ji-Sung Park in these matches," said Neville. "Like Robben did (not natural to him) against Barca last year!
"When you play a mid-table team at home you can switch off and get away with it but against the best teams you have to do the job both ways. Particularly with ten men."
@GNev2 So you're saying Arsenal should have signed Ji-Sung Park instead of Ozil? ;-)
— Rob Swan (@RobSwan87) February 20, 2014
Last RT! No, Ozil has to work like Ji Sung Park in these matches! Like Robben did ( not natural to him) v Barca last year!
— Gary Neville (@GNev2) February 20, 2014
When you play a mid table team at home you can switch off and get away with it but against best teams you have to do the job both ways
— Gary Neville (@GNev2) February 20, 2014
Neville selected his former team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo as the exception that proves his rule, because the Real Madrid star scores so many goals.
"Get world class wide players in possession to work like league Two wide players out of possession," Neville added. "Exception Cristiano! 40 goals a season!
"When you score 40 goals you can do what you want! If you don't then get yourself back here and muck in!
"Anyway that's the rant [over] for today. Thought Arsenal did well and disturbed Bayern Munich for 30 mins! Difficult thereafter!!"
Get world class wide players in possession to work like league 2 wide players out of possession! Exception @Cristiano ! 40 goals a season!
— Gary Neville (@GNev2) February 20, 2014
When you score 40 goals you can do what you want!! If you don't then get yourself back here and muck in!!
— Gary Neville (@GNev2) February 20, 2014