Manchester United Are Now the Noisy Neighbours as 'Gaalactico' Revolution Begins

Once again it looks as if the champions of England are going to have to put up with noisy neighbours. And once again it’s happening in Manchester. To paraphrase Mario Balotelli: Why always there?

Just as City once threw a mountain of money at the task of acquiring local—and national—bragging rights, United have done the same. And the worry for City is that, because of United’s edge in global popularity and match-day earnings from England’s biggest club stadium, red spending is more sustainable than blue.

City need little reminding of that as they prepare to hand over a £50 million fine to UEFA for breaching Financial Fair Play regulations. The riches of Abu Dhabi may have helped them to attract and keep Vincent Kompany, Yaya Toure, David Silva and many others, but now it looks more of a long-term job.

To give the club full credit for having thought ahead, City are about to move into a state-of-the art training complex costing £200 million (and allowable under FFP criteria) which will accommodate both the first team and the academy. But for now it will be a case of hoping that United’s brisk stroll to victory over Queens Park Rangers was not a forerunner of normal service at the Theatre of Dreams.

Jon Super/Associated Press

Angel Di Maria worked the left wing like a latter-day Ryan Giggs and Ander Herrera scored from the edge of the box in the manner of Paul Scholes. There was much of the old swagger about United and we expected that after the acquisition of so many quality players to work with Robin van Persie and Wayne Rooney under the tutelage of Louis van Gaal.

There was never, in truth, any need for United fans to worry, even as their team slipped from first to seventh under David Moyes last season. All that did was persuade the Glazer family to protect their investment by letting the new manager spend as never before—and in football the link between spending and success is hardly contested anymore. It is just a question of time.

Certainly at Old Trafford—a day after City had returned from the Emirates moaning that refereeing decisions had cost them victory over Arsenal—it looked as if the new men could settle instantly.

But I suspect United’s performance, in which Marcos Rojo and Daley Blind also gladdened the eye, should be weighed against the paucity of the challenge from QPR, who appeared utterly unprepared for such a step up in class.

Rio Ferdinand as much as anyone. It’s doubtful that the United legend has ever contributed more to a United victory at Old Trafford than on this sentimental occasion. But, while it’s convenient to single out QPR’s ageing maestro of a centre-back, it’s also unfair because most of his promoted colleagues appeared just as incapable of living with Di Maria and company.

The Argentine (so fashionable have players of this nationality become in the Premier League that it’s tempting to describe them as the new Belgians) had a magnificent home debut. He is perfect for English conditions with his speed, directness and work rate and, if United were happy to pay a national record fee, he has all the attributes—including character —to prevent them from regretting it.

Did Real Madrid err in letting him go? I was a little surprised they did not instead cash in on Cristiano Ronaldo, who, though rightly regarded as the world’s leading footballer, is three years older than Di Maria.

Jon Super/Associated Press

Ronaldo may still come back to Old Trafford in the new year, but he hits 30 in February. Falcao, whose debut against QPR will be remembered for the uncharacteristic hash he made of a chance after coming on as a substitute, reaches 29 the same month. Rooney will be 29 then. Van Persie is already 31.

So, exciting though this United attack may be, it is hardly built to last. The objective is to return quickly to contention for the big prizes at home and in Europe. That’s why Van Gaal last week mentioned the top three. A place in that earns a club automatic qualification for next season’s Champions League group stages.

The clubs anxiously monitoring United’s progress under Van Gaal, who takes them next to Leicester to complete an early examination of the promoted trio (how Moyes could have done with such a benign start), will include not only City but Liverpool and Arsenal. I exempt Chelsea, who, on the evidence we have seen so far, have no reason to be unsure of anything except the date next spring when they will be presented with the Premier League trophy.

Jon Super/Associated Press

Liverpool on Saturday missed not only Luis Suarez but the injured Daniel Sturridge as Balotelli, hailed in many quarters as a bargain at £16 million, looked a little overpriced. Arsenal enjoyed a far more encouraging draw with City, giving a much more physically competitive display against a top side than on some occasions last season. But there’s a new old kid on the block.

And we’d all—neighbours, rivals and neutrals—better get used to Van Gaal’s United.

Patrick Barclay is an award-winning football journalist and best-selling author, whose portfolio includes biographies on Jose Mourinho, Sir Alex Ferguson and Herbert Chapman.

Follow @paddybarclay