Manchester United and Manchester City are set to meet in a preseason friendly tomorrow in China. For a whole host of reasons beyond the control of the two clubs, this match is quickly degenerating into a total disaster. We’ve covered that in more detail at this link. The preseason exhibition “Manchester Derby” is also a match-up of the two Premier League title favorites, as it currently stands.
City are considered the favorites right now, with United receiving the second best odds.
Both Manchester clubs begin the season with new managers, as Monday will mark the first meeting between Pep Guardiola and Jose Mourinho when both men are Premier League bosses.
While United might be underdogs to City right now in 2016-17, Mourinho has still set his sights on winning the league this year. That’s his goal; not just top four and UEFA Champions League qualification.
“I want to be champion,” Mourinho said in the Sunday Sun. “To say before the season starts that the top four is the target? The top four is not the target. We want to play to be champions.
“If during the season we realise the points difference doesn’t allow us to fight for the title, we are going to establish a new title, and when you can’t be champion the next target is to finish top four.
“But day one, I don’t want to hide behind a bad season or no Champions League football to say we want to finish top four.”
Yesterday, Mourinho’s goalkeeper, David de Gea says he believes in his manager’s ability to deliver a league title this season.
So that’s the goal big picture. In the short term, Mourinho just wants to get out of China as soon as possible, to end the disastrous trip he’s currently in the midst of.
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net, partnered with FOX Sports Engage Network. and News Now. Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, currently contributes regularly to the Chicago Tribune’s RedEye publication.
He also consistently appears on numerous talk shows all across the country. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram
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