This Is Manchester United's Best Start In Years - Gary Neville

Gary Neville is enjoying what he deems to be Manchester United's best start to a season for quite some time, despite what the critics might say.

The nature of the Red Devils' performances this term has caused many an observer to highlight Cristiano Ronaldo's absence, but Neville counters that line of thought with a simple nod toward the results sheet.

"We're through to quarter-finals of Carling Cup, two points off the top of the Premier League and through to the Champions League knockout stages," he said after United's thrilling 3-3 draw with CSKA Moscow.

"I think it's the best start we've had for a few seasons, so we're not concerned by anything that happens externally.

"It's always the same with this club: we lose against Liverpool and there's a bit of criticism after it. But we beat [Manchester] City at home and had some good results. We are where we are and whatever happens on Sunday, there's a long way to go in the season."

Last night's result is unlikely to stem the scrutiny under which Sir Alex Ferguson's defence has come this season, with the form of stalwart centre-half Rio Ferdinand a particularly popular talking point.

But while Neville and his fellow stoppers are determined to tighten things up, he believes that their wobbles this term have been mainly down to unavoidable circumstances.

"Definitely we want to improve defensively and there are reasons for that," he said.

"The problem we've had is we're interchanging the defense too regularly at the moment and we've had injuries. That has caused us a problem, as we've had to change our 'keeper, Rio, Vida [Nemanja Vidic] and Wes [Brown] have been injured, so we are changing the back four too much."

United's rearguard will have to be steadfast this weekend if the reigning Premier League champions are to keep out a free-scoring Chelsea side at Stamford Bridge.

Matt Monaghan & Mick Maguire, Goal.com UK