Manchester United attacking midfielder Juan Mata maintains that Manchester City hasn’t won the Premier League title just yet, and that Pep Guardiola’s side will tell you the same. If you’re a neutral and you’re rooting for a title race this season, then you have got to be pulling for the home side United in the Manchester Derby on Sunday.
If you’re a neutral and you’re rooting for history and the opportunity to observe elite dominance, then you must be supporting the visitors, City.
City have already claimed the Premier League record for the best record in the first 15 games. They have won 43 of a possible 45 points- 14 wins and one draw.
It’s a top of the table clash with first place City eight points clear of United.
“They’re doing good and winning a lot of games. They’re scoring nice goals, but I think we’re doing our bit as well. We’ll try to show on Sunday that we can play very good football and we can win the three points,” said Mata of his opponent on Sunday.
“It’s a very special game, we all know that, especially because of the position we both are in the table.
“We play against City at Old Trafford and it’s one of those games that everyone wants to play, one of those really special games the Premier League has.”
United could close the gap to five this weekend, keep it status quo, or fall 11 points down. United must soldier on without their most electric player, the suspended Paul Pogba, who outlined what his team must do in order to win this match without him.
Mata knows that eventually City will start dropping points, and it’s going to be on him and his teammates seize the opportunities.
“It’s difficult for everyone to win every single game, so we’re waiting for that,” Mata continued.
“It’s very difficult, especially in the Premier League. When you play Watford, Stoke, West Ham away or whatever, it’s very difficult to win every single game and we need to be ready if they drop points. I remember a few seasons ago (in 2011-12) when United were ahead of City by eight points and then City won on goal difference.”
“It’s a crazy league and it’s too early to think that it’s finished; from City, they will tell you the same.”
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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