Scarce Man United league hopes can see them prosper in Europe
Published:Whilst so often pre-season favourites for the Premier League title, Manchester United’s 9/4 price for league glory this season sees them fall behind local rivals Manchester City in the betting.
City landed their first top-flight title in over 40 years last term, and are bidding to assert dominance over United by landing back-to-back titles for the first time in the club’s history.
If any side can stop them, it would seem to be Manchester United under Sir Alex Ferguson, though a tilt at Champions League glory could be prioritised by the legendary Scottish manager this term.
Indeed, Ferguson will be encouraged by Chelsea’s success in Europe’s elite competition last season, and after his Red Devils side shockingly crashed out at the group stage, he will be determined to make amends this time round.
United have reached the final of the tournament three times in the past five years, but only one win from those games has resulted in the trophy returning to Manchester at a more sporadic rate than Ferguson would like.
He will find himself in a difficult situation with a number of tricky Premier League away fixtures succeeding Champions League ties, and thus will have to rotate his squad accordingly.
Roberto Mancini and Man City have the greater resources to cope with such demands, and therefore look a better bet to prosper within the domestic scene this season.
The Capital One Cup could prove the domestic competition United excel in during this campaign though, with a hungry second string ready to prove their worth to Ferguson.
Recently, Ferguson has often used the competition as a ground to utilise first-team players with little opportunity of league action, and it has certainly boded well for him in the past.
Twice in the past four seasons the trophy has returned to Old Trafford, and punters can take advantage of massive 40/1 odds about a Champions League and Capital One Cup double this season.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.
