Manchester United Can Win the Premier League Title, but They Must Beat Chelsea

Not so much a darling of the media, but a protagonist, Louis van Gaal has already said a few things at Manchester United he probably regrets. Take his assertion that it would take three months for results to come this season.

He’s already backtracking on his principles as a coach, admitting following Monday’s 2-2 draw with West Bromwich Albion that a certain physicality is needed to succeed in the Premier League.

“We have also to look for a physical balance,” the 63-year-old confessed after the game, as per John Percy of The Telegraph. “I am always looking for creative players and in England you need physical players as well.”

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But nothing has put him on a pedestal like his insistence that Man Utd can still challenge for the league title this term. “Can we catch Chelsea?,” mused the Dutchman, as per Percy. “That’s possible, but it’s difficult to say. But I am arrogant because I have done it a lot of times.”

It was the kind of bullish claim we were told to expect of Van Gaal upon his arrival in England, but the former Ajax, Barcelona and Bayern Munich man is right. United can still mount a title charge but it must start with victory over Chelsea on Sunday. 

Just eight games into the new campaign and United trail Chelsea by 10 points. It’s hard to envisage Jose Mourinho’s side letting such a commanding lead slip between now and May, but Van Gaal shouldn’t be waiting around for others to make mistakes.

While problems in defence persist for the Red Devils, their attack is starting to amount to the sum of its parts. And considering that £60 million was splurged on Angel Di Maria alone, it’s a fairly hefty sum.

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Injuries have undermined them somewhat so far, but games against Queens Park Rangers, West Ham United and even the defeat to Leicester City suggest that United could become an irresistible attacking force this season. 

And thus, United should look at the way Liverpool morphed into genuine title contenders over the course of last season. Starting off with qualification for the Champions League as their sole aim, the Reds soon built momentum on the back of their formidable front line, pushing Manchester City all the way. It’s a precedent Van Gaal should be looking to follow.

They have the firepower to outscore any team in the Premier League, with Sunday’s home clash with Chelsea providing Van Gaal with his sternest test in English football so far.

The 2-2 draw with West Brom was a disappointment for United, but Van Gaal spoke sense after full-time. Indeed, his side did dominate large spells of the game and looked like scoring more than they did.

It also reinforced that the chaos has returned to Man Utd under Van Gaal this season. They might not be winning games as often as they would like, but at least the Old Trafford club has restored some form of its identity under their new Dutch manager.

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With David Moyes, United were too slow and ponderous in attack, a marked change from what the club had been for over two decades under Sir Alex Ferguson.

But the summer signings of Di Maria and Radamel Falcao, as well as the arrival of midfield dynamo Ander Herrera, mean that United are once again a fast and furious proposition.

Of course, their defensive resolution—or lack of—has placed question marks alongside Man Utd’s true credentials this season but such a handicap never stopped Liverpool from challenging for the title last term. It may have cost them in the end, but at least they were there in the first place. 

United can still win the Premier League title, but they must start building momentum now. And what better way to kick-start that than with a win over the team you’re trying to catch?