Tanya Lee | My support is with Manchester

It’s been quite an interesting season for Manchester United fans, some of whom I have lost favour with. In putting away my fanaticism and wearing my analytical hat before the start of our 2019-20 campaign, I declared within a football group of rabid Liverpool and Manchester United supporters that I didn’t expect any fireworks from manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer or his boys this season. Sadly, Manchester United are a mere three points away from the dreaded relegation zone.

My media colleague, Wayne Walker, an avid supporter of Arsenal, decided to upset the red devil in me by sharing a rather interesting tweet that made its way to his inbox yesterday.

Shaneka Ewart tweeted:

‘Football is a heartless sport. Leicester City is third on the table after getting rid of (Harry) Maguire. Swansea are fourth after getting rid of (Daniel) James, and Crystal Palace are sixth after getting rid of (Aaron) Wan-Bissaka. Manchester United are in 13th place after acquiring all three of them. 6+4+3=13th.’

Shaneka’s math was a little off. Manchester United are actually in 14th place with just 10 points from nine matches.

Last week, I came face to face with the reality of just how little expectation I had of this Manchester United team. I can’t recall ever celebrating a draw. It’s something I often scoff at Arsenal supporters for doing. But last Sunday, I was ecstatic about ending Liverpool’s 17-match dominance and holding Jürgen Klopp to yet another stalemate on enemy ground. The German hasn’t had much success at Old Trafford, having never won in five visits. Liverpool last tasted victory at Old Trafford in 2014, and have won only five times in 27 visits. Since I’m quoting the statistics, I’ll hasten to add that Liverpool have lost 16 of those 27 matches.

NO TITLES IN SIGHT

I suppose I have become like the proverbial haters, happy to put a dent in Liverpool’s title chase, while simultaneously bracing for what could likely be a lengthy spell in football’s wilderness, with no Premier League titles in sight.

For now, I will hold on to the feat of having a record 20 league titles, two more than Liverpool who are now 32 years without the most glorious of trophies. But as luck would have it, this looks to be Liverpool’s year as Klopp and his men are currently six points ahead of their nearest rivals, Manchester City.

My hope is that Raheem Sterling and Manchester City will be eventual victors at the end of this season. The Jamaican-born striker just feels like one of us and has been having a stellar year with 35 goals from 47 games in 2019. This places him in stellar company as the only players with more success are Lionel Messi with 35 goals from 44 matches and Robert Lewandowski with 41 from 44 games.

I’m wishing the young man all the best and hoping the trophy stays in Manchester.

One love.

Tanya Lee has over 10 years’ expertise as a Caribbean sports marketer and is also an athlete manager and publicist.