Manchester United midfielder Ander Herrera has kicked off the early-season mind games by claiming Manchester City are favourites for the Premier League title after their summer of huge investment.
City spent more than £200m on new players over the summer following Pep Guardiola’s first ever trophyless season as a manager and Herrera believes all the pressure is on their neighbourhood rivals this season.
Jose Mourinho’s side also spent in the region of £150m this summer, but after winning the League Cup and Europa League last season, Herrera says it’s City’s to lose from this point.
“City have spent the biggest amount in the Premier League, so they are the principle contenders for the title,” The Daily Mirror quote Herrera as saying. “We have quality as well, because of the money they have spent, they are the favourites.
“We will try to be there. There’s pressure when you spend a lot, but there’s also pressure on us because we’re the biggest club in England. We won three titles last season and City didn’t win anything. They are under pressure. They need titles to keep everyone happy.
“They’re obligated to win something. More so than us. But you know when you play for United that you’re under an obligation to win things and I like that obligation, to be honest.”
Herrera was named the Sit Matt Busby Player of the Year for United last season after establishing himself as a fundamental part of the team’s success but the 28-year-old has dropped down the pecking order this season.
The Spain international has only mustered 90 minutes of action in the Premier League this season, starting one of United’s opening five matches. However, Herrera is expected to get more game time in the coming weeks with Paul Pogba out injured for at least a month.
Despite barely featuring this season, no United player has made more tackles or interceptions in the Premier League than Herrera since the start of last season (84 & 83, respectively).
