HEAT IS ALL ON CITY
Herrera says Guardiola has ‘obligation’ to win title to justify £210m spend
ANDER HERRERA claims Manchester City are under more pressure than rivals United to win the title after their record spend during the summer.
The United midfielder has pressed the button on the Premier League mind games after just five matches, with the two Manchester clubs locked at the top of the table on identical points and goals records. Herrera points to City’s £210million transfer spree and their failure to win a trophy in their first season under Pep Guardiola, and says there is more “obligation” to win the title at the Etihad to keep the club’s Abu Dhabi owners happy. “City have spent the biggest amount in the Premier League so they are the principle contenders for the title,” he said.
“We have quality as well but, because of the money they have spent, they are the favourites.
“We won three trophies last season and City didn’t win anything. They are under pressure.
“They need titles, they are obligated to win something. They have more obligation than
us. We will try to be there. There is pressure when you spend a lot but there is also pressure on us because we are the biggest club in England.
“But you know when you play for Manchester United that you are under an obligation to win things and I like that obligation.”
Herrera has ignored the fact that City’s net spend is actually lower than United’s. Their £210m outlay was balanced by recouping £86m from sales, leaving a net spend of £124m.
Ignoring add-ons, United spent £140m – including a club-record £75m on striker Romelu Lukaku – but brought in only £9m from the sale of Adnan Januzaj, leaving a net spend of £131m.
Apart from having the same totals of points, and goals scored and conceded, United and City’s other stats are remarkably similar.
United have had 94 goal attempts to City’s 93, their shooting accuracy is 53 per cent compared to City’s 52.8, and their conversion rate is 24 per cent to City’s 22.
But City have won 41 corners to United’s 40, have a better passing accuracy of 88 per cent to United’s 86 and have enjoyed 69 per cent possession to United’s 59. Both teams have hit the woodwork four times.
The first Manchester derby of the season is scheduled for December 9 at Old Trafford and, despite the season still being in its infancy, it already has the potential to be a decisive fixture in the title race.