Craig Bellamy: Manchester United are nowhere close to Liverpool and Manchester City

The Welshman had prior experience of plying his trade for both City and Liverpool in his career.

Former Liverpool and Manchester City forward Craig Bellamy has insisted that Manchester United have a lot of catching up to do to come on level terms with his former clubs.

On Wednesday’s Football Show, the Welshman compared the three clubs’ present situation. “Coronavirus hit, and it seemed to be quite a good time at Manchester United, everyone is talking about Manchester United, but they are nowhere near these two clubs. Nowhere near. And it's going to take a good three or four years to get near,” he stated.

“The balance [City and Liverpool] have in the team, the way they play, the intensity they play at, the pressing and understanding of what they're doing, takes them well ahead. These two teams are a big gap ahead of anyone else,” Craig Bellamy continued.

The 40-year-old had represented Liverpool during the 2006/07 season when he scored seven goals from 27 appearances in the Premier League. Thereafter, he joined Manchester City in January 2009. Bellamy notched 13 goals for them in 40 Premier League matches. However, his knee injury and a tiff with then-manager Roberto Mancini meant that the forward underwent loan tenures at Cardiff City and Liverpool. At Liverpool in 2011/12, he featured in 27 encounters and bagged six goals in that process.

Meanwhile, former Liverpool defender and pundit Jamie Carragher put Bellamy on a spot by asking him whether he would prefer to play under Pep Guardiola or Jurgen Klopp.

Craig Bellamy remarked, “With Jurgen Klopp's side, Mo Salah and Sadio Mane roll inside, they get their width, they still attack with five and defend with five, but I think the structure of Manchester City being wide and staying wide, dealing with one v ones, would probably suit me better.”

“Players being in their position, understanding their roles, understanding where the pockets are. That would probably suit me better because I don't believe I am as intelligent as the likes of Mane and Salah to go from out to in. I like creating that width and creating one-v-ones out wide,” he further observed.