Abhranil Roy
Manchester City have always been great rivals of Manchester United, but they weren’t really significant in terms of posing a threat in terms of silverware. However, in 2009, Arabian billionaire Sheikh Mansour Ali bought the club, and thanks to his oil money, the ” noisy neighbours ” have grown by leaps and bounds, so much so that they have now appointed Joseph Guardiola, one of the game’s best thinkers as their manager from the next season. It was hard to believe at first, but soon everybody realised that the months of rumours and media house reports had actually turned true. England is now eagerly awaiting for one of the game’s most successful coaches, and one may be certain that there is going to be a lot of hype when the man actually arrives at the Etihad. Under such circumstances, it is imperative for United to stay relevant no matter how the media may go gaga for City, and here are 3 ways in which they can do so:
1. Finish the season on a high
Manchester United haven’t won a proper silverware since Fergie retired in 2013, and it’s high time they do so now. The FA Cup presents the best opportunity for van Gaal and his men, with the traditional big 4 of Chelsea, Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester City all knocked out now. United have to beat West Ham in a quarter-final replay now, and of they do so, they will face Everton in the semis. On the other hand, United are now only a point behind City now, in 6th place and have just beaten them 1-0 in the Derby. With 5 games to go in the league this season, if the Red Devils can beat the Citizens to the fourth and final Champions League spot now, it will be a sucker punch for them.
2. Appoint Jose Mourinho
It is very well known that the Portuguese has been eyeing the United job for a fairly long time now, and the best way to counter the Pep Guardiola hype is to appoint Mourinho as the manager. Van Gaal has failed to deliver the goods despite being in charge for nearly 2 years now. His ” philosophy ” and ” process ” has more often been ridiculed than being appreciated , and fans and experts both want him gone now. The former Inter Milan manager will be a good fit at Old Trafford, and the media will have a field day with him in charge.
3. Buy big name players
Despite having spent 300 million pounds in the last 3 years, United have failed to buy big players who can deliver consistently. The gaping holes in midfield and the lack of quality upfront are painfully obvious, and with the Pep already aiming to sign the likes of Ter Stegen and Pogba to bolster an ageing City squad, United must also invest in players who know how to perform continuously. It is the only way they can continue to counter City.
