Eric Cantona was an inspired United signing…of that there can be no doubt.
He brought that touch of class to the team and the young players were able to learn from the French star who was like a proud peacock strutting around Old Trafford controlling games.
Well King Eric has an heir…step forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who is defying his 35 years to spark a revival in the Reds’ title fortunes.
When he was leaving PSG for us, the Swedish superstar said he arrived in France as a king and had become a god…and that status is being maintained. His double against WBA means he’s scored 16 this season – and ten in the last nine matches.
Sixth-place United’s title odds have tumbled to 16/1 at Betfred – and Ibrahimovic’s own odds on being voted the PFA player of the year are now 20/1. Maybe I am getting a bit giddy and admittedly I have been on the shandies a bit too much (well it is Christmas!) but I sense a United surge in 2017.
I’m not necessarily saying United will be champions but we are no longer sitting ducks and are capable of winning any game nowadays. Importantly we’re an exciting team, able to play attractive football which fans like me enjoy. Having said that odds on favourites Chelsea are in tremendous form with eleven wins on the bounce and City have ended their sticky patch with back to back wins.
Ibrahimovic going goal crazy and the fast-improving form of Paul Pogba have however boosted United’s chances of at least a top four finish. An Italian friend of mine told me that at Juventus Pogba carried the team and I’m beginning to see his undoubted talent come through at Old Trafford.
It is a good job United are on a roll and putting a resemblance of a Christmas smile on my face because football is costing me an absolute fortune at the moment.
The favourites keep winning and the last two rounds of Premier League matches have emptied my pockets of more than £3m. With United hosting David Moyes’ relegation haunted Sunderland, Arsenal at home to WBA, Chelsea entertaining Bournemouth and City at bottom club Hull, the Boxing Day games could however put an end to any festive fun.
In fact at Betfred we’re 2/1 that City, Chelsea, United and Arsenal all win.
