There is no rest for the wicked. There is even less rest for the cardiovascular systems of those who support Manchester United, it seems. Having negotiated a deserved draw against Chelsea on Sunday, irking many an ABUs in the process after United fans took the liberty of celebrating a last minute equaliser, Louis Van Gaal’s troops make the short journey across town to face the defending champions.
The prospect of United traveling to the Etihad as underdogs would have seemed sheer lunacy until a few seasons ago but it’s now widely accepted, given City have won two of the last three titles and put eight goals past United in the last three meetings, winning every single one of them.
The shift in power those wearing blue tinted specs have dreamt or pontificated about since the Arabs arrived in town might not have manifested itself with the intensity they had hoped, but it’s undeniable that City are a transformed club and, in fact, a much better side than United as things stand.
It is, however, refreshing to see that despite all their money and a couple of trophies here and there, City maintain the small time attitude that has afflicted them since the dawn of time and not only because they claim to have more fans in town than United do, only to resort to flog tickets on a buy one get one free basis.
It seems that success has got to City’s head a bit, prompting them to get slightly confused over United’s history. Take Aleksander Kolarov’s comments, for example.
“It is a great game to watch or play in – I think every player in the world would like to play this game,” City’s left-back told talkSPORT.
“United has a great history but in the last five or six years, I think we have been superior to them. It will be a great game to play.”
Five or six years?
City won their first trophy in 35 years when they lifted the FA Cup in 2011, before winning the Premier League in 2012 and 2014, when they also won the League Cup.
Having won a Premier League and Champions League double in 2008, United missed out on a second consecutive European crown in 2009 when they won a third league title in a row and the League Cup, which they successfully defended the following season. They then lifted the Premier League title in 2011, when they lost another European Cup final, and 2013.
Still, at least Kolarov went it to add that “Manchester United are always United. They are a great club with a great history and if you don’t respect them a lot they are going to beat you.”
