Next 7 Games Crucial for Manchester United’s Season

With four of last season’s top eight to come in their next seven league games, Manchester United’s heroic comeback against Chelsea could be the start of a title challenge… or it could be another false dawn.

United on a roll – win tickets to see them

Last weekend’s comeback against Chelsea shows that Manchester United really mean business this season, and their next seven league games could be the difference between a genuine title challenge and another disappointing end to the season. With arch-rivals and current Premier League Champions Manchester City up next, it is now or never for Louis van Gaal’s men. If you are looking for a great chance to be at next Sunday’s game then sign up with any Gambling Africa online casino and win 2 tickets to an EPL football match of your choice. They offer exclusive online casino bonuses for South Africans and the other African countries.

Turning point

When Chelsea took the lead at Old Trafford through Didier Drogba, they looked certain to hold out for the remaining half an hour and take all three points back down to London but, against all odds, Robin Van Persie snatched the latest of equalisers to rescue a point for Louis van Gaal.

Whether United deserved a point is up for debate – they were outplayed for much of the game, looking shaky in defence and rarely troubling Thibaut Courtois in the Chelsea goal – but they did keep playing until the final whistle and punished Chelsea’s lack of attacking intent following the goal.

After failing to live up to the Premier League big boys over the last two years, and so rarely taking the late chances they became famed for under Sir Alex Ferguson, the result against Chelsea could be a real turning point.

Goal hero Robin van Persie. Image by Gordon Marino

Tough run of fixtures

Vital few weeks

With United having failed to qualify for Europe and been knocked out early on in the Capital One Cup, their sole focus for the rest of 2014 is the Premier League and, with the run of fixtures they have to come, this is perhaps just as well.

Having scraped the draw against Chelsea, their next game – a trip to third-place Manchester City – is arguably tougher and it is followed in two weeks’ time by another tricky assignment at Arsenal. On current form, however, United’s trip to face Southampton at Saint Mary’s on December 8 potentially poses the biggest challenge. But it is a game they will need to win if they are to maintain their hopes of competing at the top of the table.

By the time Liverpool come to Manchester on December 14, van Gaal’s ambitions of a Champions League place could either be a realistic aspiration or a distant dream depending on how the previous six games have gone.

Southampton manager Ronald Koeman has made the Saints extremely tough to beat.

Image by Ronnie Macdonald

Make or break

After nine games, United are now 10 points off the Premier League pace but, with so much time left in the season, they could close the gap with a decent run of results. The next seven games, incorporating sides that will be challenging for Champions League spots as well as tough mid-table opposition, will provide the sternest of tests for Luis van Gaal’s men and they will make for compelling viewing. If you are a Gambling Africa customer then you could be lucky enough to be there in person.