It is a potentially pivotal weekend in the title race, and Manchester United have shown they are equipped to have a huge influence on it.
They’ve won five of their last seven visits to the Etihad Stadium, which is a truly remarkable statistic. It’s insane.
This is the best side not only in England or Europe, but quite possibly the world, and they’ve beaten United once at home in their last seven matches.
Why? Well I hate to say it, but I don’t think the answer reflects totally well on United. They clearly have a gameplan to hurt one of the most dangerous teams in football, so why don’t they have a plan to beat the other teams?
I think it has something to do with desire, with mindset. Because it’s City, they are prepared to work harder, dig in, fight, show character to match their quality. And I’d argue if they showed that character every week, then they’d be in a much better position.
City are an incredible side, but they are not invincible. Everton showed that last week, by taking the fight to them, and every single player doing the hard yards.
The problem with playing City is, if you have just one player not doing his work properly, then they find a way to pass out of their zones and hurt you. It takes everyone.
If United are to have a chance this weekend, then every single player must show that commitment, that work ethic, ensure they are pressing as hard as possible with total commitment.
Can they do that? I have to say I can’t see it. There are too many players at that club who seem to want to be the ‘luxury’ player and not have to work.
When United have won at the City of Manchester, they’ve largely done it through an incredible team ethic and a fight which hasn’t been there this season.
Ralf Rangnick will know they have beaten them those five times. He’ll know how they did it, because all the analysts and many of the coaches are still there, and the blueprint will be set out against City.
I think he’ll be wise enough to use it, because it has been shown to work, and he’s not got a huge ego which says he has to do it his way. But can the players put aside their egos?
If they do, then it makes the title race incredibly interesting now, but I’m sorry to say I just can’t see it from a team which simply doesn’t look enough of a team to me.
