Manchester United return to the league after disappointing outings in FA Cup and Champions League fixtures, the league leaders must now do their utmost to not lose their concentration and maintain their lead over City.
The Red Devils suffered a major setback to their treble dreams, as they were controversially knocked out by Real Madrid in the Champions League. United were then under persistent media scrutiny as news surrounding Wayne Rooney’s imminent departure surfaced in top newspapers in England. There were further concerns when Ferguson’s men surrendered a two goal lead against Chelsea last week in the FA Cup semi-final.
United were infact lucky to not crash out of two tournaments in consecutive fixtures, after Juan Mata forced a great save from David De Gea in the dying moments of the match and United ultimately survived, now having to play a replay of the fixture.
Manchester United had been ferocious at the beginning of the season, they showed the winning mentality and the never die spirit which is concurrent of Champions. Known as the comeback kings of this season, United have earned a handful of points this season coming from losing positions. They have been fierce in front of the goal and have scored 68 goals in the league, this is 12 more than Chelsea who have scored the second highest number of goals.
Being deadly infront of the goal has allowed them to boast a superior goal difference to their rivals Manchester City. United will very well know the importance of having this advantage, having lost the title to their bitter rivals on the last day of the season on goal difference last season.
The Red devils after two disappointing weeks, should keep themselves focused on the league now and not make the same mistakes they made last season. Even though they have a comfortable 12 point lead on second place Manchester City, history tells us that anything is possible in football and United have not won the league till they have mathematically won it.
Another worry for the 19 time Champions is their underperforming striker Robin Van Persie. The Dutchman had been in exhilarating form and was in a breathtaking run when he was virtually scoring for fun at the beginning of the season. However fatigue has taken its toll now and Robin Van Persie hardly looks like the feared striker he had been.
The 29 year old has only scored once in the last eight games and has failed to register any in the last five. He is now repeatedly being bullied by defenders and after he made a substitute appearance in the FA Cup match against Chelsea, he was provided no room to function by David Luiz and could not influence the game in anyway.
United will be against relegation favourites Reading this weekend, who are manager-less after Brian McDermott was relieved of his duties earlier in the month. United however have to be careful of not taking them too easily following the drama in the reverse fixture on the 1st of December. Reading were close to causing one of the upsets of the season when they scored three against the Red Devils. However United restored order and recorded a victory courtesy of goals from Wayne Rooney and Robin Van Persie in the second half.
United will need both its strikers back in top form again, a form which saw them form a formidable partnership in the league which was unstoppable. It is important that United continue with the winning mentality they have had for years and not be demeaned by the recent happenings, if they successfully do so they are on the course to winning their 20th League title.
United were infact lucky to not crash out of two tournaments in consecutive fixtures, after Juan Mata forced a great save from David De Gea in the dying moments of the match and United ultimately survived, now having to play a replay of the fixture.
Manchester United had been ferocious at the beginning of the season, they showed the winning mentality and the never die spirit which is concurrent of Champions. Known as the comeback kings of this season, United have earned a handful of points this season coming from losing positions. They have been fierce in front of the goal and have scored 68 goals in the league, this is 12 more than Chelsea who have scored the second highest number of goals.
Being deadly infront of the goal has allowed them to boast a superior goal difference to their rivals Manchester City. United will very well know the importance of having this advantage, having lost the title to their bitter rivals on the last day of the season on goal difference last season.
The Red devils after two disappointing weeks, should keep themselves focused on the league now and not make the same mistakes they made last season. Even though they have a comfortable 12 point lead on second place Manchester City, history tells us that anything is possible in football and United have not won the league till they have mathematically won it.
Another worry for the 19 time Champions is their underperforming striker Robin Van Persie. The Dutchman had been in exhilarating form and was in a breathtaking run when he was virtually scoring for fun at the beginning of the season. However fatigue has taken its toll now and Robin Van Persie hardly looks like the feared striker he had been.
The 29 year old has only scored once in the last eight games and has failed to register any in the last five. He is now repeatedly being bullied by defenders and after he made a substitute appearance in the FA Cup match against Chelsea, he was provided no room to function by David Luiz and could not influence the game in anyway.
United will be against relegation favourites Reading this weekend, who are manager-less after Brian McDermott was relieved of his duties earlier in the month. United however have to be careful of not taking them too easily following the drama in the reverse fixture on the 1st of December. Reading were close to causing one of the upsets of the season when they scored three against the Red Devils. However United restored order and recorded a victory courtesy of goals from Wayne Rooney and Robin Van Persie in the second half.
United will need both its strikers back in top form again, a form which saw them form a formidable partnership in the league which was unstoppable. It is important that United continue with the winning mentality they have had for years and not be demeaned by the recent happenings, if they successfully do so they are on the course to winning their 20th League title.
