THE WINNING FORMULA
I know I said
this before but I will say it one more time to emphasize the magnitude of the
rapid, positive, change Mourinho has done, ever since the Portuguese manager
took over at Old Trafford. Total turn around. That’s the word that will be used
to described Mourinho’s` new Manchester United
squad. From taking the team back to the Champions League to making the
Red Devils serious title contenders, the great one has certainly been getting
the job done and the fans are definitely all in the same boat when it comes to supporting the manager and why wouldn’t they? Ever since Mourinho stepped into
Old trafford he set on to upgrade the team's weak defense. The percentage of goals the team have conceded has been incredibly lower than the last two seasons before the portuguese manager took over at Old Trafford. Although the
team have not been all that entertaining when it comes to their football in
the pitch, the average goals the team has scored this season,The average goal
victory the team has had this season has been won by two goals maximum.
BATTLE FOR MANCHESTER |
It's the most anticipated week in the Premier League season and it could not have
come at a better time for Manchester United. Ever since the Red devils lost
their big number 8 playmaker, the team has been on a tear on every competition
they have been involved in with a record of at least two goals per game this
current season. But this weekend, Manchester United will face another one of their biggest test after the gut wrenching loss the red devils suffered at the
hands of Chelsea at stamford bridge a few weeks ago. However, despite the few
negative situation the Red Devils have faced, Mourinho has managed to make
sure his team has maintained a close between themselves and fierce rivals
Manchester City whom are currently leading the league as well as maintaining
eight point gap between themselves and manchester United. To be fair to
Manchester United, the team had faced a huge setback this past few month after Paul Pogba went down through injury and then just a few games after Pogba’s
return from injury the frenchman was immediately handed a suspension as a result of the red card he received for accidentally stepping on Arsenals defender Hector Bellerin accidentally or otherwise. Pogba has been so
influential for Manchester United with his ability to control the team's attack
from the middle of the park, frequently and effortlessly. But Pogba’s brilliant
influence has not been carried out by the french man's efforts alone but also
with the help of a superb serbian, defensive midfielder, Nemanja Matic. Ever
since the Serbian move to Old Trafford from United's historical rivals Chelsea,
the Serbian has provided the team with solidity ahead of Manchester United's defenders while simultaneously providing the midfielders the confidence to push forward and support Lukaku or Ibrahimovic in search of goals for the team.
So how will the loss
of Pogba play a factor in this weekends big derby game? The quality of
Manchester City's attacking strength might over power Manchester United's midfield strength due to lack of creativity. If you have been paying close
attention to the analytics concerning Manchester United's playing style this
season you will understand that Nemanja Matic and Paul Pogba have been playing extremely great football this season, with the sensational form Romelu Lukaku
continues to have in front of goal and David Dea’s consistent ability to
perform the most unimaginable saves at any point in a match, It’s hard to
imagine that Manchester United will ever be considered an underdog heading
into any match. Now although this is a site focused solely on Manchester United
football club, i feel i should the Potential threat our rivals Manchester City possesses and how the red devils can neutralize Manchester City on Sunday.
As much as I hate to admit this, Manchester
City manager Pep Guardiola has successfully assembled one of the most skillful,
most high paced, and most clinical set of players ever assembled in modern day
football. Filled with highly rated footballers like Kevin DE Bruyne, Gabriel
Jesus, David Silva, Fernandinho and Sergio Aguero, it’s easy to see why
Manchester City has been so dominant at this season's Premier League competition averaging at least two goals a game and residing at the top of the Premier
League table with an eight point gap ahead of our own Manchester United. With all the factors added up, it’s easy to see why
Manchester United might be considered the underdogs heading into the derby on Sunday.
But here are some positives for United fans to hang their hopes on heading into
this Sunday: Manchester United have been on very strong
winning streak in every game in all competition the club has competed on. Which has earned the club second place in the premier league table and a place in the next stage of the UEFA Champions
League competition. Meaning that the Red Devils will be heading into Sunday's game
with extra bounce and confidence of coming out of the game with at least a
point or more after Sunday.
In conclusion,
adding to the extra boost of confidence the team has gotten as the Premier League reaches the midway point, Mourinho delivered some joyful news to the
fans recently on the Official Manchester United website. It appears that Phil
Jones and Zlatan Ibrahimovic might be available for the starting lineup for Sundays
clash and the news could not come any sooner. The three players had been sidelined with Injuries for a large part of Manchester United's on going season and
as United head into Sunday's clash. Now it remains unclear, after Mourinho
announced the duo’s bounce back to fitness, if the manager will indeed add both
Jones and Ibrahimovic back into the starting line up this early after both
players return to fitness but with Manchester United needing to close the gap
on Manchester City who are currently sitting eight points clear of United at
the top of the table more might have no choice but to go big or go home this Sunday
in the close the gap between the two clubs at the Premier League table. City
have pace, skill and tactics on their side when they are on the pitch but United have strength, skill, precision, togetherness and most importantly, an in-form
David De Gea guarding the goal post every step of the way. It is up the manager
to put all these positive attributes together and turn them into three points
on Sunday.