I’m seeing a mirage at Man United, a magnificent team that, actually, doesn’t exist
WHEN you think about football clubs who have enjoyed success over a number of years, you always remember how solid they were.
Ajax in the 1970s, Liverpool in the 1980s, and Barcelona under Pep Guardiola.
They looked as if they would do what they had promised to do every single week. Even when they played poorly you still knew what they were all about.
But I’ve simply no idea what Manchester United are about these days, and in Sunday’s 3-1 defeat by Manchester City I just couldn’t see what they were trying to do.
Take the build-up to City’s third goal, a goal that was 44 passes in the making.
United had eight or nine players virtually on the edge of their own 18-yard box for much of it, something that would never have happened under Sir Alex Ferguson.
The great teams he put together always had a solid shape, a foundation, just like those other great teams, but I’m not seeing anything like that at United these days.
Instead what I am seeing is a mirage – a team that might be great but never will be. Not with this manager; not with this squad.
It’s as if we’ve walked into a desert and there, in the distance, stands a magnificent team capable of going toe to toe with any rival. But as you get closer you reach out to put your hands on Paul Pogba, Romelu Lukaku, David de Gea and Co and, actually, they don’t exist.
It’s the opposite down the road at the Etihad, where Guardiola has built a title-winning City team on solid foundations. Comparing the two sides now is embarrassing for United.
Take away the words Manchester, United, City, derby, Mourinho and Pep, and we’re left with two sides with a chasm between them.
We might as well be comparing City to Wolves given they, like United, are a team with a negative goal difference.
City and United are streets apart in terms of consistency, cohesion and talent.
And I’d go as far as to say there’s not one United player who would get into City’s side at the moment, not even De Gea.
Guardiola will tell you he’s a fantastic keeper but he isn’t a sweeper-keeper and that’s what the City boss wants.
By my reckoning, it’ll be two years at best, three if we’re being sensible, before the gap can be closed. But, really, we could be asking how long is a piece of string because City are going to keep getting better and the only dip I can see any time soon is when time catches up with Sergio Aguero.
Guardiola isn’t going anywhere, the Abu Dhabi owners will throw as much money as it takes at him to ensure that.
And even if United were to bring in a new boss next summer, it will take some time for him to get in the signings who will bridge the gap that has opened up between the two sides.
For now, what United have got is a collection of names which sell shirts but City have a team... and it takes time to put a team
together.