Manchester United, under new minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe, has a bold three-year plan to restore dominance over Manchester City. However, the reality is starkly different. Sunday’s 3-1 derby defeat against City highlighted the huge gap United currently faces in order to achieve this goal. Despite their history and reputation, United are far from being genuine rivals to City at the moment. Since their last Premier League title in 2013, United have failed to finish above City in the league, while City has amassed a total of 15 major honours, including the Champions League. In comparison, United has only managed to win four trophies in the same period. The statistics are clear – City sits comfortably ahead of United with an 18-point lead in the league this season, along with a significant goal difference.
Looking back to 2008, City was in a similar position to United today. After a takeover by Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed al Nahyan, City was facing a lot of skepticism from the football world. They were often dismissed as a “small club with a small mentality” by United’s Sir Alex Ferguson, who did not believe that City could ever surpass United’s dominance in Manchester. The quality of City’s squad back then was nowhere near United’s level. However, with the right investment, vision, and leadership, City managed to transform themselves into a powerhouse in English football. The challenge now lies with Ratcliffe and INEOS to bring about a similar change at Old Trafford.
Assessing United’s Squad
One of the stark realities facing United is the quality of their squad in comparison to City’s. The recent derby defeat showcased the glaring gap in talent between the two teams. While players like midfielder Kobbie Mainoo have shown promise, the rest of the squad falls short in terms of consistency and quality. Even star players like Marcus Rashford and Bruno Fernandes have been inconsistent in their performances, which would not meet City’s high standards. Guardiola demands a level of intensity and work rate that many United players seem to lack. The dearth of quality in United’s squad means that only a handful of players would be considered for City’s team.
Ratcliffe and his team understand that there is no quick fix for United’s current predicament. City has set the benchmark in terms of on-field performance and off-field success. For United to truly compete with City, a massive overhaul is needed in terms of recruitment, coaching, and overall strategy. Until City views United’s squad with envy, the red half of Manchester will continue to be overshadowed by their blue rivals. The road back to the top for United is a long and arduous one, and the three-year timeline may be overly optimistic. Only time will tell if United can bridge the gap and challenge City’s dominance in Manchester once again.
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