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Manchester United can win the league this season under Erik ten Hag

Manchester United can win the league this season, says Pat Nevin.



Former Scotland and Chelsea player Pat Nevin joined The Football Show to discuss Manchester United.

Manchester United are third in the Premier League.

They are seven points clear of Tottenham in fourth and just three points behind Manchester City in second. If you had predicted that before the start of the season you wouldn't have received much agreement.

Erik ten Hag is at the centre of Manchester United's turnaround. And the question is no longer if they can make the Champions League, but rather can they win the title this season?

It was supposed to be out of their reach. Manchester United were supposed to be rebuilding this year and hoping to contend in a year or two years after further development and investment in the squad. But the frailty of Manchester City, the complete drop-off of Liverpool and Arsenal not running away with the league make it possible.

Pat Nevin believes Manchester United are back. He also believes United can win the title if they finish strong the rest of the season.

"I don't think they're as good a team as Manchester City," Nevin said.

"But it doesn't mean you can't win the league. It doesn't mean you can't go on a run. You've obviously got Rashford, but you've got a real belief within the group. The momentum has been brilliant. The momentum has been fantastic for them."

Nevin explains that Manchester United can't afford as many injuries as their peers. They need their key players because the squad is thinner than it should be. If Casemiro or Rashford go down at this stage of the season, it's hard to see how they would replace them.

The same can probably be said for their centre backs, considering the change in fortunes since Harry Maguire moved to the bench.

"I don't think they're fearing anyone now. They turn up to games now thinking 'Yeah, this feels right.' Old Trafford feels like Old Trafford again, which makes a massive difference. The expectation is it's going to happen.

"The other thing they've got is limited expectations. Nobody expected it. Noone thought 'We're ready to catch Manchester City' and that's a weight off your shoulders. They have already overperformed to some degree of what people were expecting from them.

"That actually helps a lot."

Manchester United beat Leicester 3-0 at the weekend after beating Barcelona in the Europa League last Thursday. But they have a detour from the league now against Barcelona in the second leg and against Newcastle United in the League Cup Final at the weekend.

Their next league game will actually be a trip to Anfield on March 5th because they also have to play West Ham in the FA Cup on March 1st.

Marcus Rashford and Erik ten Hag are a great partnership.

 

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Arsenal Manchester City Manchester United Marcus Rashford Pat Nevin Premier League