Roberto Mancini is Wrong; Manchester United Will Not Slip Up in Run-in: A Fan’s Opinion

Posted Thursday, April 05, 2012 by YAHOO Sport

When Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini suggested that Manchester United would slip up in run-in, it was a matter of wishful thinking rather than a true prediction. As far as the Red Devil's are concerned this is the business end of the season.

The Premier League champions and Sir Alex Ferguson simply have too much experience to allow it to slip at this point. The game on Monday 2 April 2012 against Blackburn Rovers was a typical example of this.

This was a tight affair and Blackburn could easily have secured a point. However, Man Utd found a way to win as all great teams do. This could well prove to be the difference between the Manchester clubs at the end of the season.

Arguably, Man City had a similar game at home to Sunderland, a game that they had to win. However, they could only manage a 3-3 draw. The Premier League champions know how to win when they have to; this is something Manchester City is yet to learn.

A statistic that sums the Red Devils up at this stage in the season is the fact they (Man Utd) have taken 31 Premier League points from the last 33 available.

That 2-0 win Manchester United recorded against Blackburn has put them firmly in the driving seat to win another Premier League title. The result has put them five points clear at the top of the table, and put down quite a challenge to their Manchester neighbours.

Man City, of course, should keep fighting for every point available between now and the end of the season. However, they may have to face up to the realisation that they will miss out on the title in the 2011/12 season.

Then it is down to them to analyse what went wrong, and how they can pip United to the post in the 2012/13 season. Experience is clearly one factor that divides the two teams at present, but there are others.

The most obvious of these is the off field distractions that have been prevalent throughout the season. Roberto Mancini needs to consider the personality behind players, as well as their actual performance on the field.

This season there has been ongoing issues with Carlos Tevez and Mario Ballotelli. Roberto Mancini should decide if these players are suitable to maintain team spirit. This is something that Sir Alex Ferguson is painfully aware of.

The other issue for Man City is the fact that building a winning team takes time. If the squad stays basically the same, in theory they will be stronger next season. The good news is Manchester United now know they have a genuine challenge for the Premier League title each season. Manchester City need to take this season as experience and figure out how to improve next season.