Manchester United have built up plenty of rivalries throughout their years of dominating English football.
The Red Devils sat on the Premier League throne for so long that they were considered by everyone as the team to beat.
That in itself sparked rivalries with teams such as Arsenal and Chelsea, but the club’s two arch-enemies will always be Manchester City and Liverpool.
Unfortunately for United, their rivals currently sit in the top two spots of the Premier League table while United find themselves struggling this season under Erik ten Hag.
However, you do not have to cast your mind too far back to remember a time when the roles were reversed.
Paul Scholes and Nicky Butt on Man City and Liverpool rivalry
Paul Scholes and Nicky Butt were both part of the iconic Class of ’92 and were both key players in Sir Alex Ferguson‘s dominant United side.
The two United legends were discussing the club’s biggest rivalries in the latest Football’s Greatest: Eras podcast and they simply couldn’t agree on whether they would rather beat City or Liverpool.
“Do you know what? It’s funny because you’re from Manchester I always feel like I’d rather beat City than Liverpool,” said Scholes.
“No, I’m different,” said Butt.
“Because I know so many City fans,” added Scholes
“Yeah I’m like that, I have a lot of City fans as mates, but for me it was always Liverpool. I don’t know why it was,” Butt replid.
“By the way, it’s weird because we have this rivalry and there’s always this dynamic of hatred, but all the lads we played against at Liverpool were all good lads.
“But the rivalry was brilliant.”
Manchester United belong at the top
The fire in the rivalries against Liverpool and City has not dwindled, but United have fallen behind in recent years.
The Red Devils have managed some good results against them in recent years, including in the FA Cup final this summer, but in terms of dominating the Premier League and winning silverware, United have fallen well below the club’s high standards.
READ MORE: Erik ten Hag fights back against sack rumours with emphatic statement
Ten Hag is now under huge pressure and faces being sacked if he cannot turn things around this week.
It is a dangerous thing to keep comparing the current United side to Fergie’s dominance, but ultimately that success in the 90s and 2000s laid the foundations and set the standards that need to be upheld.
United will always be one of the biggest clubs in the country, but it’s about time they started playing like one again.
from United In Focus https://ift.tt/KFC4GfQ