That’s what Gary Neville says.
United were convincingly beaten by their neighbours at the Etihad Stadium yesterday, going down 3-1 with Anthony Martial’s penalty the only shot on target from Jose Mourinho’s side.
The Portuguese coach adopted a much-maligned conservative approach and found themselves 1-0 down just 12 minutes in, having completed just six passes to City’s 96 by that time.
Defeat leaves United 12 points off of their rivals just 12 games into the Premier League season and with a negative goal difference having leaked a shocking 21 goals.
That’s having conceded 28 across the entire 38-game season last term.
Pep Guardiola’s men – who amassed 100 points on their way to the title last season – were better in every position on the pitch.
But Red Devils legend Neville thinks Mourinho and United can only be compared to their closer rivals such as Tottenham and Arsenal despite having spent over £350million on players since taking over in May 2016.
“That’s the bigger problem,” the Sky Sports pundit told the Gary Neville Podcast.
“The question in where they’re at against Man City, they’re nowhere near at this moment in time.
“What United can’t afford to be is many points behind Tottenham and Arsenal and Liverpool and Chelsea.
“There is real pressure in terms of whether you think United will finish in the top four this season.
“I still thought before this game and earlier on in the week that they would because they are showing determination and doggedness. This brings it home.
“You should judge United off today because that’s where the club needs to be at, the top of the Premier League.
“However you can’t judge United after today because they’re nowhere near this team but you have to judge them against Tottenham against Arsenal against Chelsea and Liverpool, in a few weeks’ time.
“It’s a humbling experience for a United player or coach because you look at what you saw out there and they’re just better in every single department.
“Anyone can see that City at this moment in time are in front of United, the question is how do United close that gap?”