Chelsea vs Manchester United: Gary Neville believes United have shown the performances needed to suggest they can beat league leaders

Neville says United face their biggest test of the season but can come through it on Saturday evening

Gary Neville believes Manchester United can beat Chelsea (Getty Images)

Gary Neville has backed Manchester United to come through their toughest test of the season and beat Chelsea after their “outstanding” performances against Tottenham, Liverpool and Manchester City.

United have taken 12 points from a possible 12 in their last four matches, with three of those coming up against their top four rivals. While the welcome haul of points has helped lift United into third and above their city rivals, it’s the performances and the manner of the victories that has installed a level of optimism that they can challenge for the title next season.

However, before they turn attentions to next term, United must consolidate their return to form with a top four finish, and a victory over Chelsea this weekend would go a long way to achieving that target which would result in a Champions League return.

Former United defender Neville believes that the fixture at Stamford Bridge will represent the biggest test of Louis van Gaal’s debut season, but believes the recent performances have shown enough to suggest they can get a result.

“The tests have been Liverpool and City,” Neville told Press Association Sport.

“This is another test. They have proven themselves, but this is the best team in the country and to go to Stamford Bridge is the toughest test.

Manchester United midfielder Daley Blind celebrates during Sunday's win (Getty Images)

“The performances from United in the past month have been absolutely outstanding in any season.

“Forget the fact that in this season they are not going to win the league, in any season the level of performance they have shown in this last month has been of a hard standard.”

Neville added that he believes they will secure a return to the Champions League via a top four finish, and feels that Van Gaal’s decision to settle on a formation after constantly re-jigging his line-up early in the season has helped the side develop into a better team.

“We were always very fixed in our formation,” Neville added.

“Louis van Gaal through necessity has had to change his formation to get different people in at different times. In the last four weeks he has settled into a 4-3-3. It has worked really well and the players looked comfortable in the system.

“He said at the start of the season that his team would get better, they always get better and he has stuck to his word. He said they would be in the Champions League and I think he will be correct.”