McGrath critical of City slip-up

Former Manchester United defender Paul McGrath is surprised Manchester City have not pulled clear in the English Premier League title race.

City had appeared on course for glory as they led the standings for much of the season, but last month they surrendered their advantage to local rivals United.

The defending champions are now two points at the top, and can increase the gap to five points if they beat struggling Blackburn Rovers on Monday.

McGrath, who played for United between 1982 and 1989, believes big-spending City should have effectively sealed the league championship.

“With the team City have, they should be walking the title now, especially given they were five points ahead at one stage,” McGrath said.

“There’s a cockiness that comes in, but as Sir Alex Ferguson knows, you’ve got to fight right until the finish line is crossed.”

According to McGrath, City’s players are struggling with the expectations a tightly contested title run-in produces.

“There is an enormous pressure on them though, and in average games that they’d probably win nine times out of 10, they’re suddenly at this time of the season so wound up knowing they can’t lose a game that they’re afraid to play,” he said.

“This means some players don’t want the ball and they end up with draws instead of wins.”

As for United, former Republic of Ireland international McGrath feels their squad is weaker and less experienced than in previous seasons.

“They have had some great results, that great Arsenal win for example,” he said, referring to an 8-2 home victory in August.

“But I don’t think United are half the team they were, honestly.

“Player-wise, they’ve had teams in the past with magnificent players all over the park, now they’ve got kids they’re training up and obviously a few will go on to be great, but they’ve thrown a few of them in a bit early.

“That’s what makes Alex Ferguson so good coming into a title race. He could write the book on it.”