Chapter 527: Champions' Aura
Confidence builds game by game, and after their 3-2 comeback against Burnley, securing their 21st consecutive Premier League win, Manchester United's players were brimming with it.
However, the continuous cycle of playing two matches per week, each fiercely competitive, is a major challenge for professional footballers. Despite Mourinho's efforts to rotate players and provide rest, by the end of 2017, fatigue was inevitable.
Even with the exhilaration from their string of victories keeping spirits high, the mental and physical exhaustion led to fluctuations in performance.
On the afternoon of December 30th, United faced their last match of 2017 at Old Trafford against Southampton. Surprisingly, it was Kanté who stepped up this time. Known primarily as a defensive midfielder, Kanté scored twice, with assists from Gündoğan and Bruno. This victory was highly praised by the British media.
Fans understand that no player or team can maintain peak performance indefinitely. There will always be highs and lows. Evaluating a team's core competitiveness involves assessing whether other players can step up when key players have off days.
City clearly couldn't, as they were held to a 0-0 draw away to Crystal Palace. Arsenal shared the same fate, drawing 1-1 away to West Brom.
Both City and Arsenal were not in poor form, yet United's attacking front showed clear signs of fatigue, with even Bruno appearing less energized. In such circumstances, Kanté's brace saved the team.
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After the match, British media unanimously hailed United as the most championship-worthy team this Premier League season. The league table after 21 rounds made the situation clear.
United, with their 21 consecutive wins, were leading with 63 points, creating a significant gap. Behind them was City, with 18 wins, 2 draws, and 1 loss, amassing 56 points.
Scoring 56 points in 21 rounds, averaging 2.667 points per game, is impressive in any context. In fact, across Europe's top five leagues, this record ranks second.
In La Liga, Barcelona lead with 14 wins and 3 draws in 17 matches, totaling 45 points, averaging 2.647 points per game.
In Serie A, Napoli top the table with 15 wins, 3 draws, and 1 loss after half a season, scoring 48 points and averaging 2.526 points per game.
In the Bundesliga, Bayern Munich, with 13 wins, 2 draws, and 2 losses in 17 matches, lead by 11 points but only average 2.412 points per game.
Paris Saint-Germain reclaimed the top spot in Ligue 1 with 16 wins, 2 draws, and 1 loss, accumulating 50 points and averaging 2.632 points per game.
City's record would make them undisputed leaders in any other league or season. However, they encountered an unstoppable Manchester United this season. After 21 consecutive wins, United have pulled 7 points clear of City.
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Comparing this season to Guardiola's first year of rebuilding, City has shown significant improvement, increasing their points by 17 and moving from sixth to second place.
In the Premier League, where a three-center-back system is suddenly popular, Guardiola adapted his signature 4-3-3 to a 3-4-3 formation successfully. Despite the psychological imbalance caused by United's dominance, City's performance in England and Europe is commendable, second in both goals scored and conceded, showing a balanced attack and defense.
City's rise is closely tied to Kevin De Bruyne's outstanding performance. In recent seasons, De Bruyne has moved deeper on the pitch but has grown stronger, evolving from a versatile attacking midfielder to a master controlling the game. His continued high-level play could see him compete for the Ballon d'Or.
De Bruyne's passing, scoring, vision, and defense are all exceptional, making him a well-rounded midfielder. Remarkably, he is also a fighter, consistently running and contesting for possession throughout matches. He not only creates the most chances but also leads in interceptions, forming an unbeatable midfield duo with Silva.
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Other teams lag behind the Manchester clubs. Chelsea is third with 13 wins, 3 draws, and 5 losses, totaling 42 points.
Last season's title contenders, Chelsea, have faced challenges this year. Conte's three-center-back formation, which dominated last season, is now familiar and exploited by other teams. With additional Champions League commitments, Chelsea struggles more despite adding Drinkwater and Zappacosta to bolster the squad. However, they haven't met expectations, leaving Chelsea vulnerable against teams with a strong midfield.
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Klopp's Liverpool sits fourth with 11 wins, 7 draws, and 3 losses, accumulating 40 points.
This reflects Liverpool's current standing, still a distance from genuine resurgence. Klopp's abilities are undisputed, but his squad lacks depth. Players like Lovren, Klavan, and Moreno struggle for starting spots in other top teams, yet Klopp relies on them. Injuries to key players like Matip exacerbate their defensive issues, compounded by a lack of traditional defensive midfielders to stabilize the backline.
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Pochettino's Tottenham is fifth with 11 wins, 5 draws, and 5 losses, earning 38 points.
This position seems unfair given their performance. Tottenham's high pressing and quick transitions are both effective and entertaining. Moreover, their focus on youth development and homegrown talent, unlike other star-studded Premier League teams, is commendable. Despite selling Kyle Walker, they successfully promoted Trippier, maintaining their effective wing play. Alli's form and Morata's impressive start after replacing Harry Kane, even attracting Real Madrid's interest, highlight their success in nurturing talent.
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Arsenal, with the same record as Tottenham (11 wins, 5 draws, 5 losses), sits sixth due to a lower goal difference.
Despite a disappointing last season that saw them miss out on the Champions League, this season's performance has been decent, accumulating 38 points. The Europa League's lighter schedule helps, but injuries remain a significant issue. Wenger's squad lacks depth, and injuries to key players often derail their campaign by January.
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In the top scorers' list, Bruno, despite not scoring in the last two games, leads with 29 goals, a significant margin ahead. Salah and Harry Kane follow with 18 goals each.
Salah quickly integrated into Liverpool, proving his scoring ability even if he doesn't win the Golden Boot against Bruno and Kane.
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