Sport
Fortnight to determine season for Manchester United
A viciously deflected Ashley Young shot was all that separated Manchester United from a home draw with Brighton. This – with the comfortable win over Newcastle – sandwiched a night of Champions League frustration. Before that, a drab performance led to a 1-0 defeat at Stamford Bridge.
In similarly underwhelming fashion, Manchester United scraped past a strong Tottenham. It was a case of job done, a trademark Jose Mourinho performance, if you like. United are showing a few signs of trademark Mourinho. They are ruthless late in matches, efficiency reigns over style, and, despite criticism, remain Manchester City’s closest ‘challengers’.
Their 29 points in 13 matches works out at 2.23 points per Premier League fixture. This rate would only have won them two Premier League titles since the turn of the decade, but it would have seen them go very close in almost every other year. Admittedly those two seasons are their own title in 2011 and Leicester’s historic season in 2016, but this start to the season would usually make them strong contenders for the title.
City are on another planet
City might just be too good this year. Aside from the rivalry, there’s nothing wrong in admitting that. If City win the league with 90 plus points, even Mourinho might just have to hold his hands up and say it (I appreciate there is more chance of him making Luke Shaw club captain than that actually happening).
It might be a smidgen early for such talk, but United could be forgiven for focusing on finishing in the top four. They have done that just once in the last four years. A mere six points separates United in second from Liverpool in sixth, and – though we all hoped for a fascinating multi-team title race – the top four contest is where it could be most interesting this season.
Just making it into the top four would draw plenty of criticism. Perhaps fairly given the money spent, but United should be wary of how quickly they could slip out of the Champions League places. Chelsea, Spurs, Liverpool and Arsenal are all within striking distance, and could quickly pass Mourinho’s men.
Torturous fortnight
This is particularly relevant given their upcoming fixtures. The ease of their opening matches this season is well known, and their two matches with fellow top six teams to date were nothing more than okay. Chelsea could have won in a far more convincing manner than they did, but the performance against Spurs was ideal for Mourinho.
Between November 28th and December 10th , United face Watford away, Arsenal at the Emirates, and the biggest of all, the Manchester derby. Provided Mourinho rotates for the Champions League clash with CSKA Moscow, fatigue should not be an issue, but it is a decisive period in their campaign.
Their good start could evolve into a pressured Christmas, or we could be talking about Mourinh lifting his fourth Premier League title.
Watford’s manager, Marco Silva, has deserved the widespread praise. The Hornets are only four points outside the top four themselves, and have played some thrilling attacking football at times this season. A midweek trip to Vicarage Road is no walkover for Manchester United, despite having only conceded six goals all season.
Of course, United are still favourites. It’s a match they should win, but Liverpool, Chelsea and Arsenal have all struggled against Silva’s yellow swarm this season. Given the two league matches that follow, this fixture takes on a yet greater importance.
Consequences of Watford away day
Defeat could leave United level on points with Chelsea, and just one ahead of Arsenal when they travel to the Emirates this weekend. A win, on the other hand, would keep the gap to a maximum of eight from City.
Eight points is manageable, providing that United can beat City, however improbable that is. That is a City slip up, and a United derby win from a potentially epic title race. Anything more and United are praying on a more significant collapse from City.
It all sets up for a fascinating match in north London this weekend. Mourinho tends to be happy with a draw away at a top six club. This time, though, that would be acceptance of City’s superiority. It would be pragmatic to set up to avoid defeat, but it would be a signal of United’s ambitions for this season. With the squad at his disposal, Mourinho must be aiming for the title even with the risk of falling off the top four pace.
Mourinho needs two wins in his next two. United have to be within nine points when they welcome Manchester City to give themselves a chance. Anything less and United could be in for a long few months in the top six congestion.
The importance of the Christmas period is overblown. For Manchester United, at least, the definitive weeks of their season come before we are even halfway through our advent calendars.
