United or City for the title but which one?
It is still early in the season yes but the two Manchester clubs and their rival managers look to be far and away the front-runners for this seasons Premier League title. Though it is still too early to predict we may as well, but who?
Both Manchester United and Manchester City strengthened in staggering amounts this season. Though United bought fewer players their net spend for the window was 142.8 million while Manchester City’s net spend was 131.6.
The two clubs spent a similar amount of money and are beginning to resemble almost the exact images of the type of teams the two famous managers who are tasked with their successes would idealize.
United are a lethal machine. They’re strong, fast, physical and ruthless. They don’t play a concerto so much as turn a screw. Eventually they win matches by just wearing down their opposition.
City are different. They’re obviously not Barcelona but they attack with verve and brilliance and discouraging in the inevitability of their attack.
Both clubs are in their second season under their respective managers. Each one has had more time to work with their squads and make sure they’re more ingrained in their methods and know their managers ideas of football.
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Mourinho has a long track record of winning the league in his second year at a club. He’s incredibly good at taking a new club and turning it into his image of a football club and doing so quickly. He’s moved around enough and had enough success to prove himself a serial winner. Even if his version of football isn’t the most beautiful (also an arguable point) it is a wildly successful thing. At Porto, Chelsea, Inter, Madrid and Chelsea again he was successful in wining the league. It will happen at United eventually. Mourinho’s record suggests it.
Guardiola’s record is different. As a coach he’s had a different record to Mourinho in that he hasn’t managed as many clubs. I’ve always said that his credit at Barcelona has to be minimal. Their is constantly conversation about how each of the stars of that Barcelona team Messi, Iniesta, Xavi and Pique had been at the club since they were 11. Some longer than Guardiola. That was a success built for years without any of Guardiola’s involvement. He eventually became their supervisor but any manager would have had success with that pre-arranged team. At Bayern things were different. He was very successful but things were different and he never succeeded in Europe.
That is why Manchester City is where Guardiola will have a chance to cement his legacy. He has every tool to build in exactly his image. He has an unlimited amount of money and no club politics or outside influences to change things. Unlike say Bayern Munich, Barcelona, Real Madrid or some other clubs Manchester City don’t have a history of a certain type of football. Pep can do exactly what he wants Manchester City have essentially handed him an open palate with which to create. It’s important that he succeed at City if he is to be considered an A+ level manager.
His unlimited sum of money, helpful allegiances in the boardroom and a relatively stable squad environment in his second year make City quite strong and they’ll be a force to be reckoned with.
If United are going to succeed they are going to need maturity out of some fairly young players. Romelu Lukaku while incredibly talented has yet to actually win an important trophy in his career. Paul Pogba is a highly talented player but is either a hit or a miss. He either dominates or disappears.
As is uncommon in a United team the backline still appears to have a couple of holes. Blind is not a natural left-back and not becoming more of one at a quick rate at all. While Eric Bailly looks to be a Rolls-Royce of a defender it doesn’t really look like Lindelof is settling in well. United need maturity and development and consistency. Last season they started off flying and ended up in 6th. It’s important to remember that.
City are trying to do more than simply win football matches. They’re trying to win hearts and minds. They’re trying to play Spanish Catalan football in England. This is something that does complicate issues to a great extent. It’s not a simple thing that Guardiola and City are trying to do. The team looks at times like they’re magnificent and others like they need more time. Beating Watford by a large margin should be expected of City.
Next: How much will Pogba's injury hurt United?
They need to be tested and as of yet they have continuously failed those tests. They need to develop a bond and character and that’s hard for a team that has only been together for 18 months and has seen almost the entire squad turned over in two seasons.