Perhaps no Manchester United player takes the rivalry with Manchester City as seriously as midfielder Ander Herrera. In the past, the Spaniard has not shied away from making bold predictions/claims or boastful guarantees regarding Manchester Derby outcomes. Herrera has also done his fair share of trash talking/throwing shade/talking smack at the Citizens too.
Now Herrera, currently out long term with a hamstring injury, has stated a hypothetical bargain he would willingly make with City for United success. It’s one that’s bound to be controversial with United fans.
“I don’t think about City, just about us. To win the Champions League would be enormous for us. Massive. So if you said City win the title and we win the Champions League this time I would sign that document right now,” Ander Herrera said.
“People forget that it’s still possible for us to win two big titles this season – the Champions League and FA Cup. We are still in the race for both. It could be an adventure to do it.”
Herrera has already won a League Cup (2017) FA Cup (2016) and Europa League (2017) during his United tenure, but he admits that claiming a Champions League trophy would be on another level.
“The Champions League is a big, big title and to win it would be special, but we are only concerned at the minute about getting past Sevilla because it is not easy,” Herrera continued.
“They are a tough team and we still have to work hard to go through, but we know there is a lot more to fight for this season.”
United definitely need goals when they host Sevilla Tuesday night, as they played the La Liga side to an extremely dull goalless draw on their trip to Spain. Herrera’s midfield teammate, Nemanja Matic, declared the midweek clash the most important game of the season.
While Ander Herrera doesn’t think it’s impossible for United to catch City for the league title, he does admit it would take a miracle. City are 13 points clear of United at the top of the table with still a game in hand, and just eight contests left for the Red Devils.
“I don’t like the word ‘impossible’,” Herrera said. “For me it’s a word I really don’t believe exists in football because anything can happen. Yes, City is in a very good place and only a miracle will give us a chance – but you don’t stop.”
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net and TheBank.News, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, currently contributes regularly to WGN CLTV and the Tribune company’s blogging community Chicago Now.
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