Manchester United need to be 'realistic' about beating Bayern, says Neville

The former Red Devils captain says the club should be "hopeful rather than confident" as they prepare to take on Pep Guardiola's all-conquering Bundesliga champions.

Manchester United need to be "realistic" about their hopes of beating Bayern Munich over two legs, according to former captain Gary Neville.

The Premier League champions take on Bundesliga winners and Champions League holders Bayern in the first leg of their quarter-final tie at Old Trafford on Tuesday, with the Germans the clear favourites to progress.

Pep Guardiola's side have only lost once in all competitions this season, to Manchester City in December, and they arrive in England a week after securing their 24th domestic title.

Neville admits that facing Bayern will not be easy for an inconsistent United side, who have struggled this season under new boss David Moyes, and he has warned the fans not to expect too much."I'd say, going into this game, we're hopeful rather than confident," the former right-back said in United's matchday programme."That's just being realistic - Bayern are at the absolute top of their game."You're talking about a team at the absolute peak of its powers, while Manchester United is in transition."There's no avoiding the fact that this is the toughest draw United could have faced."