'He HAS to perform': Phil Neville challenges Gonzalo Higuain to 'stand up and score'... claiming the fate of Inter Miami rests in his hands following ANOTHER disappointing defeat
- Phil Neville has 'challenged' Gonzalo Higuain to step up for Inter Miami this term
- Miami are three games into their MLS season and have only picked up one point
- The boss says Higuain 'has to perform' if his side have any hope of succeeding
- Neville would also like to see his other 'quality players' set up when needed
Inter Miami manager Phil Neville is not happy with how Gonzalo Higuain has been performing since his arrival at the club.
Higuain joined Inter Miami on a free transfer in September 2020 after he agreed a £2.3m payoff with Juventus to terminate his contract a year early.
However, Inter Miami are three games into their Major League Soccer season and have only picked up one point. As a result, Neville have 'challenged' Higuain to provide some 'quality'.
![Phil Neville is not happy with how Gonzalo Higuain (above) has been performing for his side](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/03/13/11/55294319-10607719-image-a-18_1647171880884.jpg)
Phil Neville is not happy with how Gonzalo Higuain (above) has been performing for his side
Neville's side suffered another defeat on Saturday afternoon when they lost 2-0 to LAFC in their MLS clash.
Speaking after the game, Neville said he wanted 'more quality' from this team and highlighted Higuain as a player of importance that must 'stand up'.
He said: 'I just wanted more quality from my quality players. Every team we've played against, their quality players stand up and score. Ours don't and they need to.'
![Neville says Higuain 'has to perform' better for Inter Miami after they lost against LAFC](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/03/13/11/55294325-10607719-image-a-20_1647171903040.jpg)
Neville says Higuain 'has to perform' better for Inter Miami after they lost against LAFC
![The Inter Miami boss believes the 'success' of MLS club rests in the forward's (left) hands](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/03/13/11/55294317-10607719-image-a-19_1647171884313.jpg)
The Inter Miami boss believes the 'success' of MLS club rests in the forward's (left) hands
Neville went on to speak directly about Higuain - who joined his Argentine compatriot Matias Pellegrini and the club's Mexican midfielder Rodolfo Pizarro as one of the team's highest-paid players when he joined in 2020.
'For us to be successful, he has to perform,' Neville said of the 34-year-old forward. 'For us to be successful, he has to perform in these moments for this team.
'That's the challenge. For me, and I'm really strong on this, his role hasn't changed. He is the one that is our best finisher.
'He is the one that we demand the most goals from. He is the one that we demand the most assists from. Period.'
![Nevertheless, Neville did praise his side's fight following Brek Shea’s (above) red card](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/03/13/11/55294415-10607719-image-a-21_1647172102058.jpg)
Nevertheless, Neville did praise his side's fight following Brek Shea’s (above) red card
Nevertheless, Neville did praise his side's fight as he felt they never 'gave in' despite playing against LAFC with a man down following Brek Shea’s red card.
'We're just in that sticky period at the moment where we don't seem to get a break, and things are just going against us,' Neville said.
'But that's life and you've got to go through that. This is a great learning curve for this team, and the fact that they never gave in, the fact that they worked so hard, made me really proud of them.'
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