THE mini-league season starts now for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Manchester United.
Ten Premier League games remain, and qualification for the Champions League is still in their hands.
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We can sift through the statistics, and look at the current below average points total, but Solskjaer’s side are very much in the mix, and Bruno Fernandes’ introduction from Sporting Lisbon during the January transfer window, might just be the key factor.
Fernandes, 25, is in the mould of City’s Kevin de Bruyne and David Silva, and if he maintains his form between now and May, United could have a pleasant and surprising end to the campaign.
If Fernandes does manage to steer United back into Europe’s premier competition, then they might find that they have a fighting chance during the summer transfer window when it comes to attracting players like Borussia Dortmund’s Jadon Sancho.
Without Champions League football, it makes things all the more difficult for Solskjaer and Ed Woodward.
Fernandes plays attacking, front foot football, and would challenge for a place in some of Sir Alex Ferguson’s great sides.
His ability to change the pace of the attack from central areas with a deft pass or attempt at goal, means the opposition now have a different problem to the pacey wingers that Solskjaer already has at his disposal.
There’s also a willingness from him to track back and perform the “dirty” side of the game.
A good player though is one that manages to stay calm and appear to have time, when the chaos and mayhem around him is at its most frantic. And Fernandes has it.
Where United were once a predictable counter attacking outfit, they now have another string to their attacking bow, and a player who likes to dictate play from all areas of the pitch.
With the title already on its way to Merseyside, City are something of a wounded beast and they could beat United for the fourth consecutive time in all competitions, for only the second time in their history.
United go into the Manchester derby unbeaten in nine matches in all competitions, winning six and drawing three.
They’ve also kept seven clean sheets in the last eight games, scoring 22 and conceding twice.
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If United were to win they would complete a league double over City for the first time since Sir Alex Ferguson retired.
But, because of his decent recent run and the form of Fernandes (another astute signing from Solskjaer), a defeat to the team across town wouldn’t be a complete disaster, and shouldn’t place unnecessary pressure on the Norwegian.
The other sides competing for a Champions League place are consistently inconsistent, which means if United can get a point against City this afternoon, and Fernandes stays fit, then they have an outstanding opportunity to finish somewhere they thought looked impossible only two months ago.
