Manchester United: 5 Reasons Why United Deserve to Win the Title This Year

With a 2-0 victory over QPR today, United were relying on old rivals Arsenal to do them a favour over the blue half of Manchester.

This came in an 86th-minute strike from summer signing Mikel Arteta, clinching a nail-biting 1-0 victory for the Gunners.

This leaves United eight points clear at the top of the table, with just six matches of the season remaining—surely a target that cannot be surpassed by the Sky Blues.

Over the course of the season, Manchester City have rightfully been praised for their style of play and ability to walk over teams in the Premier League that would pose a challenge to any other side—notably their 5-1 victory at White Hart Lane against Champions League contenders Tottenham Hotspur.

As a result of this, many have said that City "deserve" the title. 

There is certainly a great argument for this.

Not many teams will sit on 71 points at this stage in the season, only to be considered out of the title picture.

However, as great as City have been, yet again United have shown their worth and inability to be outplayed over the course of an entire campaign.

Many will disagree with this viewpoint, stating that at times United have looked sloppy.

Here's why I think they're wrong.

Its All in the Points

The current record for most points in one season is a whopping 95—held by the Chelsea side that failed to lose at home for three years under the great Jose Mourinho.

At the moment, United sit on 79 points with six games remaining. 

Now of course nobody will expect United to win all those remaining matches (especially with a game against City at the Etihad to come).

But if United win just five of those other matches, then they will end the season on 94 points.

Nobody can argue that United don't deserve to win the league with that kind of tally (considering the winning total last year was just 80!).

At the same time, if City win all their remaining games they will still only finish on 89 points—a fantastic amount of course, but nowhere near breaking that record.

European Heartbreak Turns to Domestic Jubilation

This is something that both Manchester sides can be extremely proud of.

Having shockingly gone out of the Champions League in the group stages, it would have been easy for both United and City to capitulate in the domestic league.

However, rather than doing that, United bounced back with a string of crucial victories against the teams at the top of the table.

When they were again upset by the crafty Spaniards Atletico Bilbao in the Europa League, United showed no signs of faltering.

In fact during this horrendous European run, the Devils have gone on a streak which has seen them win 11 of their last 12 Premier League fixtures—with the one draw being 3-3 away at the hands of rivals Chelsea.

Showing that kind of character to rise above pressure and failure is the mark of champions.

Results Against the Top Sides

The results against any of the other teams in the top 6 are crucial for securing the league title.

This season United have shown a remarkable record against the Champions League contenders, as well as the likes of Everton and Sunderland who also usually pose a real threat to the men in red.

In fact their record against the teams in 3rd-6th (as well as Liverpool) are: six wins, three draws and one defeat.

And if you take away the results against Newcastle—who would not usually be considered a team that would be challenging for the top spots, that comes down to six wins, two draws and no defeats.

Particularly impressive was the doubles over both Arsenal and Spurs.

This is a record far superior to any other side in the league—including City.

Sir Alex's Old Boys

Say what you like about Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes, they were at one time two of the best players in the world.

Of course now they are nowhere near the same heights that they were during the glory days of the late '90s and early '00s. 

However, in ratio of age to talent they are arguably the two best players playing football at the moment.

The fact that Scholes came out of retirement and is now playing in the team leading the Premier League shows the quality of the man.

And as for Giggs, he never lost it—having been in either the first team or at the very worst on the fringes of it since the mid 90's.

Their ability to drive United forwards, as well as the crucial possessional play that both exhibit on a regular basis is a testament to how United are able to play football that caters to all varieties of skill and age.

I doubt that any other team in the League could play two men both aged over 36 in their starting 11 (outside of goal) and comfortably win the match.

Injuries Galore

United have had injury after injury this season.

It started when their talisman of defence, Nemanja Vidic, picked up a broken leg in a Champions League tie against Benfica.

Almost immediately after this Tom Cleverly—a player who had been a key part in United's successful start to the season, picked up another major injury in a 5-0 victory over Bolton at the Reebok.

Following this new signing, Ashley Young added his name to the list of players unavailable to play.

At this stage United were missing three of the 11 men that had been in their first XI at the start of the season.

Despite further injuries to key players like Smalling, Jones and Nani United have ploughed on, with no complaints for their fortunes.

The men that have come in to fill these voids have performed expertly—in particular Antonio Valencia and Johnny Evans.

If United do clinch the title over the coming weeks, then it will be no more than deserved.