The centre of the football universe?
IF Manchester United don’t beat Tottenham today, it will be the ninth time in succession that Manchester’s two clubs have failed to win at home in the Premier League.
Think about that, and remember, at the start of the season, United and City were threatening to turn the city into the centre of the football universe.
United had hired “serial winner” Jose Mourinho, broken the world’s transfer record for Paul Pogba and were financed by the most-successful commercial operation in global sport.
City had secured Pep Guardiola, the coach who wins titles wherever he goes, and were backed by the limitless wealth of Abu Dhabi.
Yet United last won a League game at Old Trafford on September 24, and City last won one at the Etihad on September 17.
Since then, Stoke City, Burnley, Arsenal and West Ham have each deprived United of two points at the Theatre of Dreams.
At Eastlands, Everton, Southampton and Middlesbrough have left with a draw and last week Chelsea walked away with a win.
Of the last 24 points available to the pair in home games, United and City have taken just seven. Both managers have their excuses, of course. Mourinho believes that not only does he have the unluckiest team in the Premier League, it’s also a very difficult job to teach top international players to switch from Louis van Gaal’s style of football to his.
Guardiola’s excuses centre on how he must learn to adapt to the English game and how he needs time to make his beliefs bear fruit.
In reality, the auras that have always surrounded the two managers are not shining so brightly.
Including his time at Chelsea before he was sacked, Mourinho has now won just 10 of his last 32 Premier League games.
The man who made a specialism of winning home matches has won just five of his last 15 in the League.
Under him, United have made their worst start to a season since 1989.
Guardiola has clocked up the worst start of his managerial career, including his longest winless run.
Last summer the two boards decided that Manuel Pellegrini and van Gaal weren’t good enough, and that a couple of very expensive upgrades were required.
Looking at the current table, it’s not inconceivable that City will finish fourth and United fifth – exactly where they ended last season.