Forget Manchester City- the biggest threat to United is themselves.
Sir Alex Ferguson should be forgiven for rubbing his hands and thinking half the job is done when it comes to retaining the Premier League title.
He’d be silly to do so despite United’s favourable fixture list.
After beating Spurs, the club are just two points off City, who have to face Arsenal and Chelsea over the next few weeks.
United meanwhile have eight games which they should be targeting maximum points from before the big clash with City.
West Brom, Wolves, Fulham, Blackburn, QPR, Wigan, Aston Villa and Everton are their next eight.
If they can win all eight, distinctly possible, by time the City game comes around they would surely be top of the league.
Except United probably won’t, on the basis of what we have seen this season.
The club has lifted themselves for the big games in recent weeks, but their Champions League campaign serves as a reminder at how easy it is to slip up.
Supporters and the players assumed they could simply turn up and win.
Basel and Benfica put them in their place, while only a fortnight ago the same attitude led to a 2-1 home defeat to Ajax in the Europa League.
If United are not careful this approach could derail their title charge.
It already has dealt them a blow, at home to Blackburn on New Year’s Eve, when Ferguson left out Wayne Rooney and played Rafael in central midfield.
It was a real blunder and disrespect to Blackburn, and you would hope United have learned from the mistakes, but the Europa League last week showed the club have a real problem.
Lifting your game for the crunch matches against your rivals is one thing, but it is the games against smaller opposition which can make or break you.
Ask Rafa Benitez. His Liverpool side should have won the league in 2009, but home draws to lower opposition meant they blew their big opportunity.
Take United’s upcoming away trip to Terry Connor’s Wolves for example. United should win this easily, but remember Wolves ended their unbeaten record last season in a deserved victory.
Each week Ferguson and Rooney are speaking to the press about how their experience will guide them through the title charge. That sounds like complacency to us, not just confidence. They need to go out there and win the games before speaking.
United need to be ruthless like they were against Tottenham.
If they turn up expecting to win like they did against Ajax then they will blow their title chances.
Is it United’s title or will City win it?
image: © Paolo Camera
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