Well, never a Manchester United naysayer be as the Red Devils are currently top of the Premier League – but don’t expect them to be there at the end of the season!
This is the ardent view of Andy Cole who, although very happy with the progress his former side are making, just can’t see them finishing above the likes of Manchester City or Liverpool at least this season.
Unbeaten in their last eleven Premier League matches and winning nine of them, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side replaced champions Liverpool at the Premier League summit after their victory over Burnley on Tuesday night.
And although talkSPORT host and devout Man United fan Andy Goldstein believes the 1-0 win at Turf Moor was a ‘title-winning performance’ from the Red Devils, Cole begs to differ, insisting that winning the championship is just too much of a stretch for the Red Devils right now, citing the quality City and Liverpool possess.
However, Cole does believed these latest results, which have seen United go unbeaten in their last eleven, is cause for fans to be excited for next season.
He told talkSPORT: “Can Manchester United go onto win the league this season? Probably not.
“I think for Manchester United to be top on January 12, like Ole said, is a fantastic achievement considering where they were at a couple of months ago…
“Everyone was saying Ole shouldn’t be Manchester United manager and I think it speaks volumes how he’s turned it around… and how they’ve got confidence to be where they’re at now.
“If you look at the league and teams like Manchester City, who have not played particularly well until about 2-3 weeks ago… they have two games in hand and can go a point behind Manchester United [if they win both].
“The players are just coming into form. I think the players appreciate the quality the players have and the quality Liverpool have.
“And to close the gap in one season, that’s no mean feat, that’s going to take some consistency and those sides are yet to play very well.
“But to win it this season is going to take some doing.
“I don’t think we’ve got enough to go ahead and win it this season, but I feel we can look towards next season when I think it could be a lot better.”
Hold it a sec – wasn’t it the ever-wise and ever-prudent Sir Alex Ferguson who also most recently voiced the same sentiments about it being only too easy, and way too early, to take the situation for granted and place the cart before the horse?
Anyway for what it’s worth, Man United can consolidate their place at the top of the table when they face Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday.