With just eleven games to go in the Premier League, pundits,
fans and seemingly most of the football world believe that this year's current
league leaders, Manchester United, have the title in the bag. Yet it seems
everyone has completely disregarded the miraculous comeback of the blue side of
Manchester last season.
This time last year the league leaders were Mancini's men,
with 63 points, closely followed by Fergie's men with 61. However, fast forward
one month later and the top of the table had been reversed, as it was then
United with the two point lead. That meant that between February and the last
game of the season the two Manchester clubs were alternating between top spot
and runner up position. With the sheer determination and desire Man City
demonstrated in clinching the much sought after league title, an honour United
have claimed 12 times since its arrival in 1992, surely no-one can count out
the possibility of the citizens making a sensational comeback once again.
When reviewing last season's last eight fixtures against
this seasons remaining eleven, the two Manchester clubs face three (United) and four (City) of the
clubs they faced during the countdown of last season, with United winning two
of those matches and City winning all four, including over their city rivals
United. However, when taking into account the remaining three matches, United
face difficult opponents and current Champions of Europe Chelsea (possibly even
twice considering the FA cup tie prior to the premier league fixture) and
Wenger's team Arsenal with a point to prove after a lack lustre campaign. Yet
it is current Champions City who face the harder run in, with champion's league
place fighting Everton, a Newcastle side just four points clear from the drop
zone desperate to remain in the "best league in the world",
Manchester United who are adamant that history will not repeat itself by seeing
them relinquish their lead at the final hurdle and a Spurs side who are also
vying for a top four finish. Therefore it would appear the sky blues have the
more challenging encounters, but in the Premier League, as all of its fan will
know, anything can happen.
Last season seemingly cannot compare to the current one,
however, as City have suffered a noticeable slump in form. Not only is their
win ratio (58%) seemingly incomparable with United's 81%, it does not correlate
with a team who are desperate to retain their champions' status. Their prolific
goal scorers of their title winning year are nowhere near as clinical having
scored in comparison a measly 48 goals with last February's tally at 67.
Similarly the Etihad has not been the fortress of last season, as City have
suffered 3 defeats and 8 draws already (three more than the whole of last
season) whilst also conceding 24 goals when the total at the end of their
trophy year was only 29. Whilst United have conceded 7 more goals than their
city and title rivals, they have also managed to score 12 more, showing the
gritty determination of winning matches when they are drawing or behind, as has
been the case eleven times this season in order to ultimately win -
demonstrating the resilient and resolute qualities of a title winning side.
One must not, however, forget that both teams have more than
League victory in their sights. Mancini is adamant that his team, boasting such
a high calibre, has to win at least one trophy a year, and seemingly the FA cup
appears the most likely at this stage. Yet rival Fergie also has his sights set
on the prestigious English honour, hoping to repeat the unparalleled glory in
English football of winning the treble, with his men still in contention for the
league, FA and the coveted European cup. The two clubs may even be on a
collision course in the FA competition should City overhaul Barnsley as is
expected, and United conquer Benitez's men should they triumph over Middlesbrough.
Yet, with the domestic competitions producing all kinds of shocks and
surprises, nothing is ever taken for granted. The 2010 FA cup winners City may
fall near the last hurdle as they have done so many times in other competitions
this season, while United's packed schedule possibly including further
Champion's League fixtures may hinder their chances. Therefore, the FA cup 2013
winners may be neither Manchester club, despite both being predicted to achieve
the honours by many.
As the two clubs matched each other throughout the season
last year by winning, drawing and losing the same number of matches, it is
difficult to predict what may happen this year. However, with United facing
their two most difficult remaining opponents in Arsenal and Chelsea, both of
whom they have already beaten this season, and City facing several top four
competitors, regulation threatened sides and two sides that beat them last
season (Swansea and Everton) it does appear in United's favour. But this has
all been said before last season, and most were proved wrong as City snuck up
on the Red Devils and tore the trophy out of their grasp. It may once again
come down to the derby tie four premier league games from now, or it may depend
on United's success in their two other cup pursuits, and which trophy Fergie
values more. But ultimately, despite this seasons less drama and fewer goal
thrillers, these last games guarantee just as much excitement and could produce
just as much upset as the spectacular end of the 2011/2012 campaign: Mancini vs
Fergie, who will have the nerves of steel to drive their team towards glory in
2013?
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