---
title: "Phil Neville reveals captaincy regrets, and distaste for “over-hyped” Merseyside Derby"
canonical: "https://readeverton.com/phil-neville-reveals-captaincy-regrets-and-distaste-for-over-hyped-merseyside-derby/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Sam Brown"
section: "Feature Writers"
published: "2018-09-08T11:12:49Z"
modified: "2018-09-08T11:12:49Z"
---

# Phil Neville reveals captaincy regrets, and distaste for “over-hyped” Merseyside Derby

Phil Neville has revealed that he wishes he hadn’t taken the captain’s armband so soon after his arrival at Everton, in a tell-all interview that also saw the club legend call Merseyside derbies “over-hyped”.

Named captain by then manager David Moyes in a match against Dinamo Bucharest shortly after his 2005 arrival from Manchester United, Neville would eventually go on to take the role full-time after the departure of David Weir in 2007.

![Dan Mullan/Getty Images Sport](https://media.readeverton.com/readeverton/2018/09/1028900700.jpg)

However, Neville claimed in an interview with Sky Sports ([quoted by the Liverpool Echo](https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/phil-neville-opens-up-everton-15126408)) that he wouldn’t have taken the captaincy so soon if he was faced with the decision again.

> They \[the fans\] hadn’t accepted me because after one month David Moyes made me captain.

> At the time I accepted it but, looking back, I shouldn’t have done.

> I should have got my feet under the table and waited six months but he wanted it done and he wanted it done straight away.

> I found it really tough as I wasn’t accepted by my team-mates. I was the teacher’s pet, I was Moyes’ little boy.

That first season was mentally really tough. I found it really difficult.

![Richard Heathcote/Getty Images Sport](https://media.readeverton.com/readeverton/2018/09/111925967.jpg)

The Everton stalwart also stated how much he loathed Merseyside derbies.

> I hated Merseyside derbies, I really did,

> I thought they were over-hyped. I think a Manchester derby, we used to talk about from 48 hours before. Merseyside derbies were a week before.

> The masseur would put up on the wall ‘five more sleeps’. The next day ‘four more sleeps’, the next day ‘three more sleeps until the Merseyside derby’.

> It was the biggest game.