There was a curious sidebar to the meeting of Borussia Dortmund and Malaga in the Champions` League quarter final which clearly illustrated major differences between the two clubs. The German club, fiscally secure and organised, against a La Liga outfit facing a Uefa ban if they did not pay off their outstanding debts.

As far as the football goes Dortmund were at their elegant best in the first leg, until they got to the business end of the pitch. Gotze and Lewandowski squandered chance after chance and despite the quality of Dortmund`s football it was evident from early on that the night would finish scoreless.

Three minutes into the second half came the moment that summed up the night for Dortmund, and their normally deadly striker Lewandwoski. He was in pole position when Reus`s deflected cross reached him on the penalty spot. The international striker `fluffed his lines` is the most polite anyone can be about a dreadful miss.

Come the second leg there surely could not be the same level of profligacy as was displayed in Spain and thankfully there was not. Instead two teams went at it hammer and tongs and produced one of the most memorable of European nights.

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Malaga got the best of starts with an early goal from Joaquin who smashed the ball past Weidenfeller for a valuable away goal. The finish was superb but the shimmy that took him inside onto his more favourable left foot which sent half the Dortmund defence the wrong way, was worthy of Phil Bennett at his very best. But Lewnadowski made amends for his first leg profligacy with an equaliser that sent the sides in level at half time, the Pole stabbed home superbly despite the close attention of three defenders to register his 6th goal of the competition.

The score line remained the same until eight minutes from the end of normal time when substitute Eliseu scored the goal that looked like taking Malaga, in their debut season participating in the Champions` League, through to the semi final. Just 12 minutes after coming on the substitute diverted Baptista`s goal bound shot home to put Malaga within touching distance of a place in the last four.

Manuel Pellegrinin who had only just returned from Chile after the death of his father, was to suffer even more heartache as the game went into stoppage time.

Dortmund were not the only unbeaten side left in the competition for nothing and drew on their huge resource of heart when Reus pounced to draw the score level at 2-2. Not enough because of away goals and throwing caution to the winds Dortmund threw everything at Malaga and that approach paid off with 93 minutes showing on the clock.

A goalmouth scramble produced a cross shot from Reus and Santana popped up, three inches from the goal line, to stab the ball home thus making amends for playing Eliseu onside for the second Malaga goal. The result thereby maintained the possibility of an all-German final.

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Emanuele Giaccherini said it best when he moved from back-to-back Serie A winners Juventus to Sunderland, that the Premier League’s allure allowed him to make the easy decision to swap Turin for the north of England. And let’s not assume that the Italian was a disposable member of Antonio Conte’s side, because he wasn’t. Where star names and match winners are a necessity for any title-winning side, those in the engine room are just as vital. Giaccherini was a jack of all trades, willing to play anywhere his manager placed him and with absolutely no fuss.

Though that doesn’t mean the Premier League holds something within its boundaries that can’t be found elsewhere on the continent. Both Chelsea are Arsenal have or are in the brink of losing out on transfer targets this summer, with Radamel Falcao joining up with the rising project at Monaco, and Gonzalo Higuain possibly walking into a very smartly built Napoli side, though I wouldn’t place 100 per cent value in what Aurelio De Laurentiis says during the summer months; the Napoli president likes all the fanfare.

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The thing about the Premier League is that it very rarely buys the biggest names in world football. For those from Europe and South America, Real Madrid and to an extent Barcelona are seen as the pinnacle of European football, though the former much more so. If you’re a youngster or even an established international in Germany, it’s more than likely you’re going to end up Bayern Munich, despite Borussia Dortmund getting one over on the Bavarians in the race for Marco Reus.

Clubs like PSG are rapidly changing the face of European football, allowing “lesser” leagues like the French Ligue 1 to quickly gain a reputation as one of the leading destinations in Europe. No longer is France surrendering the Zidanes, Makeleles and Thurams to Italy or Spain, but rather it’s using its new-found financial muscle to establish French football as a force in European competition once again.

It’s not that English football is losing its allure, but we have to question how much of other nations’ appeal we’ve been allowed to witness. Even now, Serie A is on an upward trajectory, the Bundesliga’s two Champions League finalists have proved that Germany is as exciting as anything, while even La Liga has its benefits away from the top two.

In England, we’re often led and encouraged to believe that only our league matters, as if it’s an unbelievable backhand that a player opts for somewhere else. Something about “why would he want to go there?” is one of the most likely exclamations, only to be better by, “we never really wanted him in the first place,” all the while completely inconsolable that one of the top names has chosen to go elsewhere.

It’s also about familiarity and history for players. For example, if Higuain were to choose Napoli over Arsenal, it’s not really because the Premier League club couldn’t offer him a lot (and probably everything), but that the tradition of the Naples club has been taken into account. Its history with Argentinians in the past; the fact that Edinson Cavani went close to equalling Diego Maradona, both in scoring and in landing the club a league title, as well as the unconditional love he was offered by supporters. Higuain was never really loved at Real Madrid; he was never made to feel like he was their star striker. At Napoli, he would get all of that and more.

Mario Gomez too, a touted option for Chelsea in the past. He has it all now: Bundesliga titles with two different clubs, domestic cups, the Champions League. He has a reputation as one of the best forwards in Europe. Why Fiorentina then? Why not Chelsea and the Premier League, where he will undoubtedly have the opportunity to enhance his trophy cabinet, possibly with another European Cup?

Well Fiorentina are a different prospect altogether. No one in Serie A played better football than them last season. The turnaround from relegation candidates to the top four in Italy within a year was astounding. The owner has cash to burn, too. It’s not as if to say Gomez has signed for a club with little hope for the future.

For those who took a quick glance at Florence and the rest of the Italian league, there is every chance Fiorentina could win the Serie A title within a few short years, even without Stevan Jovetic. Gomez would be the star propelling them to such heights. He’s won the lot so he can afford to have a year out of the Champions League. It’s a new project but one with a little more respect and dignity attached to it over the relentless spenders elsewhere in Europe.

If Arsenal and Chelsea, and the rest of the Premier League, continue to miss out on targets it’s because everywhere else has something to offer just as much as English football. The Premier League isn’t the be all and end all, as much as we’d like to think.

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Is the Premier League losing its appeal?

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Arsenal’s hopes of landing Newcastle ace Yohan Cabaye have suffered a further set-back, with news that Paris Saint-Germain are now interested, according to reports from The Independent.

The Gunners lodged a £10million offer for the Frenchman yesterday, but their bid was instantly dismissed and branded as derisory.

As well as angering the Magpies, the Londoners bid only served to alert PSG, who have now made a £15m move for Cabaye.

The big spending Ligue 1 champions have been keen on the playmaker for some time, and are desperate to lure him back to his homeland.

With an almost guaranteed shot at challenging for silverware and continental honours, Cabaye could be tempted by a switch to the Parc des Princes.

The news is a real blow for Arsenal, who have missed out on a number of transfer targets already this summer.

Only rookie striker Yaya Sanogo – a free transfer – has arrived at the Emirates Stadium, as deals for both Luis Suarez and Wayne Rooney look to have passed the Gunners by.

Meanwhile, Arsene Wenger has also made an audacious offer for Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba.

The 20-year-old – who moved to Italy from Manchester United – is rated highly in Turin after a series of impressive displays.

Arsenal fans, would it be a blow to miss out on Yohan Cabaye?

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Liverpool returned to the top of the Premier League table with a Luis Suarez-inspired 3-1 win over Cardiff after an enthralling 90 minutes of action at Anfield.

Two first-half goals from the Uruguayan – who penned a mega money contract extension at the club yesterday – either side of a Raheem Sterling tap in (also set up by Suarez) saw the Reds enter interval with a comfortable lead. The second period was a completely different affair, as Malky Mackay’s men enjoyed the better of the final 45 minutes, pulling a goal back through Jordon Mutch.

Despite the comfortable scoreline for the home side, it was Cardiff who started the game the brighter of the two sides.

Craig Noone tested Simon Mignolet with a fine curling effort, which the Belgian dived to keep out of his net. Mutch then came close with a free header from the ensuing corner, as the visitors looked threatening.

However, Suarez then provided the moment of magic on 23 minutes to break the deadlock. The deadly South American volleyed home superbly from the edge of the area after Jordan Henderson’s looping cross dropped onto his right boot.

From here the Reds surged into control of the game, with both Philippe Coutinho and Jon Flanagan rattling David Marshall’s right-hand post.

Liverpool then doubled their advantage after 41 minutes, with Suarez this time turning provider. The number seven raced clear from the half-way line, before unselfishly feeding Sterling to tap home.

Then with Cardiff looking to get in for half-time just the two goals down Suarez struck again, curling home from outside the area following a neat exchange of passes with Henderson.

After a bright start to the last 45 minutes, Cardiff pulled a goal back through Mutch, who nodded past the home stopper after a Peter Whittingham free-kick.

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The Bluebirds continued to dominate, and despite having a penalty claim turned down looked the more likely side to net the fifth goal of the afternoon, but almost let Suarez secure his hat-trick with an effort that struck the post.

The away side were unable to pull another goal back, as Liverpool held firm to secure a vital three points, which sees them leapfrog Arsenal to take top spot in the Premier League. Meanwhile Cardiff stay 15th, but could drop lower if other results go against them.

The Merseyside derby is one of the Premier League’s most unique fixtures that never fails to disappoint. This afternoon, Everton made the short trip across Stanley Park to Anfield, looking to leapfrog local rivals Liverpool in the table and make a statement of their Champions League intentions.

But the Reds are gunning for Europe too, and came out of the blocks flying. Liverpool skipper Steven Gerrard put them ahead after 20 minutes, and the rest was simply one-way traffic. An injury to Toffees talisman Romelu Lukaku certainly didn’t help proceedings, and soon after the Belgium international came off, Daniel Sturridge recorded a stunning brace within two minutes, his latter effort being a sensational chip, making it 3-0.

Luis Suarez then stopped any chance of a comeback ten minutes after the interval to get the home side’s fourth of the evening.

It could have been more; Daniel Sturridge missed a penalty just before the hour mark with a horrendous effort that didn’t even work Tim Howard, and the England international also wasted an opportunity to square the ball to Suarez in the box, instead shooting wide.

In yet another thrilling and unpredictable Merseyside clash, it’s Liverpool who go away with all three points and solidify their hold on the Premier League’s fourth spot.

After lots of sustained pressure from the home side in the first 20 minutes, Steven Gerrard finds the net for Liverpool with a header:

A few moments later, Romelu Lukaku is forced off with a nasty injury from a collision with Gareth Barry:

And after 34 minutes, Daniel Sturridge increased the home side’s lead:

The England international made it a brace just seconds later:

After 50 minutes, Luis Suarez made it four for the home side.

Five minutes later, Liverpool won a rather dubious penalty, which Daniel Sturridge failed to convert in typically English fashion:

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Then Suarez and Sturridge had a little tiff about not passing the ball…

Newcastle’s entire season can be best be summed up in this 8 second video:

[youtube FfnhmuZ27eQ]

The clip is of John Cleese in Clockwise; a film in which Cleese’s character Brian Stimpson finds things consistently going wrong for him despite his best efforts. Stimpson is helpless to change his fortunes. He is little more than a spectator in his own life as the world transpires against him.

“It’s not the despair Laura; I can stand the despair . . . It’s the Hope!”

Struggle we can deal with. We know how to struggle. Struggle is constant. You’ve just got to accept your struggle and keep at it.

But hope, hope hurts. Hope allows you to believe that things may get better. We invest in hope. It consumes us. And when our hope is invariable dashed the fall is much the greater. The low is always lower than the high that hope allowed us.

And there has been a lot of reason to hope at St. James’ Park recently.

First there was Andy Carroll. And then there was Demba Ba and Yohan Cabaye. There was the rise of Tim Krul and Fabricio Coloccini, and the fall of Joey Barton. There was the 2011/12 Manager of the Season and the 2011/12 Goal of the Season. There was the 11-game unbeaten run only ended away by Manchester City.

There was even European football.

But then came the fall. And the fall was tough.

Struggling to fight the good fight on four fronts lead to a season of strife. But there was an acceptance that the 2012/13 season was never going to be as easy as the previous, and everyone knew deep down that the team wasn’t as bad as the table suggested.

It was a struggle, but a struggle with pride. Struggle is something they can do at Newcastle. They’re used to struggle.

But the worst was yet to come.

Worse than selling your local lad to Liverpool. Worse than fighting against relegation when it was supposed to be ‘your season’. Worse than losing 3-0 at home to Sunderland.

There was mediocrity.

The mid-table of the Premier League can be a tragic place. Some are happy to be here, but this happiness is only fleeting. The inevitable demands for European football come a calling. And with European football, the fall back to mid-table mediocrity.

At the top you can win. At the bottom you can survive. But in the middle; in the middle you can only be forgotten.

Nothing happens in the middle. The middle is made up of nowhere men.

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This may sound alright to some. It may even sound appealing. None of this messing around with highs and lows, give me a safe slice of the middle.

But anyone who’s spent anytime here will know different.

We watch football for the excitement. We watch football for the fun.

But there’s nothing fun about knowing that if any of your team’s players actually turn out to be good, they will inevitably be sold. There’s nothing fun about winning seven out of 10 games between November and December, hoping that this time might be different, only to see your team then give up. There’s nothing fun about having nothing to gain, nothing to lose, about knowing your season is essentially pointless.

It would have been easier without the hope. Despair may seem like the worst possible outcome, but those familiar both know that it’s the hope that really hurts.

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Having overcome Olympiakos in dramatic circumstances at Old Trafford, David Moyes’ Manchester United were rewarded (or should it read punished?) with a quarter final against Pep Guardiola’s seemingly invincible Bayern Munich.

Twenty five victories in twenty seven Bundesliga fixtures so far, Bayern have gone fifty two league matches without defeat. The Germans were crowned domestic champions once again on Wednesday with a record seven matches to spare.

With the Club World Championship and Super Cup also secured, Guardiola’s side are on course for an incredible haul of five trophies this season.

With such an imperious record and reputation, it may seem curious to suggest that Moyes and United were dealt anything other than the worst possible draw. Guardiola’s Munich are looking ominously capable of becoming the first side to retain the Champions League trophy.

However, United wouldn’t be considered the favourites in match-ups with any of the other quarter finalists. Spanish heavyweights Barcelona and Real Madrid would have relished a draw against the faded Red Devils.

Diego Simeone’s Atletico Madrid have impressed so far and convincingly eliminated AC Milan in the previous round. Paris Saint-Germain may be relative newcomers to this stage of the competition but led by enigmatic forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic, their expensively assembled squad would still likely prove too much for United to handle.

Bearing all this in mind, Moyes and United may have actually got the best possible draw in facing the much-fancied Germans.

With Moyes enduring an aerial protest when his side hosts Aston Villa, the draw against Bayern is the best possible scenario for a manager that has likely taken his side as far as he possibly can in the competition this season. Rather than adding to the significant pressure already on the “Chosen One”, the match-up against Munich is almost accepted by most to be a step too far for this current United side.

The expectation to progress has deflated massively amongst the club’s supporters who realistically acknowledge the scale of the task. Recent home humiliations to rivals Liverpool and Manchester City emphasises just how much work is required to return United to the summit of English football.

Remarkably, for the manager of a club like Manchester United, Moyes can effectively have a free swing in his match-up with Guardiola’s Bayern. Even the most ardent set of United fans are expecting nothing more than elimination against the imperious Germans.

Obviously a pair of competitive performances is the minimum requirement but nearly everyone in football recognises the gulf that currently exists between the two sides.

With United’s domestic form showing no immediate signs of improvement, success in Europe, no matter how unlikely, was viewed as the only way a disastrous campaign could at least be partially salvaged. Likely buoyed by the dramatic events of their second leg triumph against the Greeks, Moyes talked up his side’s chances of lifting the trophy in May. In a post-match press conference, the Scot stated “I suppose we’ll be the underdogs in the draw, but I genuinely believe this club of is capable of doing it.”

Since the draw, Moyes has spoken confidently about the tie. The Scot said: “I’ve got a few things that I’ve seen that I would try to work on and capitalise on.”

Comments such as these will likely be subjected to much derision by football fans, but it epitomises the correct approach. Arsenal’s resistance in the Allianz Arena and Manchester City’s victory, albeit in a dead rubber fixture, suggests there could be weaknesses behind the aura of invincibility.

Nevertheless, it is a tie that very few expect the Red Devils to emerge triumphant from.

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At the end of the day, United were almost certainly going to have to overcome Bayern if they were going to secure an unlikely triumph in Europe. By drawing the German giants at the quarter final stage, the weight of expectation has dissipated and Moyes’ side can approach these fixtures with the mindset of genuine underdogs.

Almost any other match-up would have added even further to the mounting pressure.

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After what must have felt like years for Liverpool fans, Adam Lallana has finally arrived at Anfield in a £25million deal after an extremely impressive season with Southampton last year.

Lallana is the Reds’ second summer signing, following former team-mate Rickie Lambert to Merseyside in what must be an exciting season ahead for Liverpool.

But while fans rejoice at a major coup, how much more can Lallana offer the Liverpool team? Is he the man that can make the Anfield faithful forget about the departing Luis Suarez?

Here are FIVE REASONS to get excited about new Liverpool signing Adam Lallana.

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5. Lallana’s rise from League One

It wasn’t too long ago that the now England international was playing in the third tier of English football… only four years.

In his last season in League One, Lallana scored 11 goals to promote Southampton into the Championship, which also saw him bag the League One Player of the Year.

He continued his promotion displays as Southampton took the Championship by storm and received a second consecutive promotion to finally end up back in the Premier League. Lallana was again essential, earning the club Player of the Year and named in the Championship XI.

But while many fall short when reaching the English top flight, Lallana developed during his first Premier League season and in his latest campaign was impressive enough to earn himself a seat on the England plane as well as in the Premier League XI.

Now in the Champions League? It won’t be surprising if he can up his game to challenge the European Elite.

4. Lallana gives Liverpool much needed squad depth

Although defence was one of Liverpool’s shortcomings in the title race last season, it was also the squad’s lack of depth which saw them unable to cope with crunch fixtures when compared to the likes of Manchester City and Chelsea. And with the Reds now also competing in the Champions League, Lallana’s versatility is a huge bonus.

The attacking midfielder can pretty much play anywhere in midfield, operating regularly at either the flanks or as the central playmaker. He is capable of being pushed forward as a winger, and has even on occasion played almost as a defensive midfielder.

But while many suffer playing out of position, Lallana has looked comfortable wherever utilized and is a coach’s dream. His versatility therefore makes a good chunk of his expensive £25million price tag.

3. Lallana contributes defensively

Although his ‘Fantasy Football’ stats would suggest otherwise, Adam Lallana is one of the most hardworking players in the Premier League at his position. The Englishman doesn’t lose the ball often, but when he does Lallana tracks back without sulking at being dispossessed.

Last season Liverpool fans have hailed Jordan Henderson as a player with endless energy, giving it all in every game in which the he covered an impressive total of 359 km.

Adam Lallana, known for his silky dribbling and intricate passing, covered 357 km. Not only are Liverpool purchasing a strong attacking player, but one that also helps defensively.

2. The England and Rickie Lambert Connection

Lallana’s call up to the England set up this summer will play a massive part in his performance for the Reds next season. His inclusion was the perfect chance to get a head start in knowing his team-mates, as most of the Three Lions happen to be Liverpool players.

Captain Steven Gerrard, striker Daniel Sturridge, Jordan Henderson, Raheem Sterling, and even Glen Johnson will now have met and trained with Lallana, giving the 26-year-old a slight head start when linking up with his new team-mates.

But more importantly he has Rickie Lambert at Anfield, who he has been playing with at Southampton since 2009. With Suarez now on a long four-month ban, it would mean Lambert could easily start and their understanding which has served so well for the Saints could bear fruit this time for the Reds.

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1. Lallana scores goals

//www.youtube.com/embed/u9ZnydLLpkk

Nothing is more important than goals in football. Strikers get paid millions to put the ball into the back of the net but when you have a midfielder that contributes as well, then you have an elite squad capable of challenging the very best.

If his midfield attributes of chance creation (68 total last season, 1 more than Gerrard) and defensive contribution isn’t already enough to value his price tag, then his nine goals in the Premier League for Southampton is. Tap-ins, long-shots, headers… Lallana is capable of scoring all kinds.

And don’t let the three goals in his first Premier League season fool you, Lallana has been banging them in for quite some time.

During the 2009-2010 season in League 1, Lallana scored 20 goals to become the first Southampton player to do so since the great Matt le Tissier. And from that point on he hasn’t stop developing into a world-class midfielder.

Expect him to score some goals next season, and then his £25million price-tag would feel like peanuts.

Dwight Yorke has branded Manchester United’s decision to sell Danny Welbeck to Arsenal for £16m over the summer a “disgrace”.

The Red Devils sanctioned the deal just hours before the transfer deadline close during the last window after Louis van Gaal had deemed the England international to be surplus to requirements.

The Dutchman had secured moves for Radamel Falcao and Angel di Maria, leaving his attacking options plentiful, which freed the 23-year-old for the switch.

WANT MORE? >> Manchester United transfer news | Arsenal transfer news

Welbeck has since impressed for the Gunners, with his hat-trick against Galatasaray taking his tally in north London to four – more than any player in the United squad this season.

And after watching other England internationals such as Adam Lallana and Luke Shaw command fees of £25m and £27m respectively, Yorke feels that his old side’s decision was a poor one:

“£16m – that’s a disgrace,” he told the Manchester Evening News. “When Lallana and Shaw have gone for £25m and £27m, that’s pathetic.

“That’s why I cannot understand the market. He had to be a loan deal – especially with Falcao not signing permanently.

“You could let Danny Welbeck go on a year’s loan, get some money and have that option. He’s worth more than £16m in today’s market. Shaw and Lallana – they’re worth that much more than Danny Welbeck?

“I don’t think so. Not with his pace and power.”

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Welbeck netted 29 goals in 142 games for United, which is a record Van Gaal suggested was not befitting of a player in a team of such stature.

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Of all the unknown quantities in the Premier League this season, from a Luis-Suarez-less-Liverpool to a third-place Southampton, a free-falling Newcastle to a newly-promoted Leicester City, I find Manchester United by far the most intriguing.

An unprecedented £150million summer spending spree – the second most lucrative window of a single club in the history of the sport, only bettered by Real Madrid in 2009 – and the long-awaited arrival of the masterful, enigmatic Louis van Gaal, is juxtaposed by an inexperienced, chaotic defence and a number of disappointing results against lesser opposition, including Leicester City, MK Dons and most recently, West Bromwich Albion.

But does that even matter when you have Radamel Falcao, Wayne Rooney, Juan Mata, Angel Di Maria, Robin van Persie and Adnan Januzaj skulking around in the final third, possessing enough quality and firepower to turn even the slightest of chances – a slithered view of the net’s inner lining, half a yard of space outside the box – into a world-class goal? On their day, even against some of the top defences in Europe, the Red Devils’ attacking cast are capable of culminating a cricket score.

That’s the intoxicating danger at the crux of Manchester United this season – it’s hard to tell whether you’re looking at Premier League’s untamed dark horses, or simply it’s dog and pony show.

Well, the litmus test comes in the next few weeks, as United take on Chelsea, Manchester City and Arsenal in their next four Premier League fixtures – starting with the Blues at the weekend.

Van Gaal has already been bold enough to claim his side can still catch  the league leaders, headed by former apprentice Jose Mourinho. And whilst Arsenal, Liverpool, Everton and Spurs – the Premier League’s resident battlers for places in the top six – continue to struggle for consistency in the early part of the season, the stage is certainly set for United to make themselves a significance in the title race for the first time since Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement.

Despite a rather flattering public response to the 2-2 draw against the Baggies on Monday night, in quiet, van Gaal will unquestionably be more disappointed. Amid an inaugural utilisation of a 4-2-3-1 system, the Dutchman expected a more structured, methodical, and balanced performance, as a blueprint for the coming run of fixtures that will define United’s season.

But it took just eight minutes for West Brom, via a sensational strike from Stephane Sessegnon, to undo that game-plan and in truth, United’s hero of the evening was substitute Marouane Fellaini.

The Belgium international not only equalised just minutes after coming on at the interval, but also provided the height and physicality United’s engine room had lacked to their own demise throughout the first half. In classic Red Devils style, an 87th minute goal from Daley Blind saved a point and collective blushes.

It certainly doesn’t bode well for the clash against Chelsea on Sunday or the visit to the Etihad; far from the one-dimensional, possession-fearing Blues side we witnessed last season, they’re currently averaging 3.3 goals per game, whilst Manchester City aren’t far behind at 2.3. Comparatively, United concede on average 1.5 goals per match and have only kept clean sheets against QPR and Burnley this season – two of the three lowest scorers in the division.

Yet, the greatest weapon at van Gaal’s disposal remains the element of surprise. The record-breaking signings, the sensational attacking cast, the mixed bag of results, the indefinable power of United’s history, the fact they’re yet to face serious opposition and the notion that at some point, the Red Devils will inevitably click into gear, amalgamates into a feeling of perplexing ambiguity.

After all, what are Jose Mourinho, Manuel Pellegrini and Arsene Wenger actually preparing for? The old, rugged, determined, winning United? The new Red Devils, fuelled by Dutch tactical theory and some of the top attacking talents in world football? A dysfunctional United, struggling for balance and organisation? A United ready to pounce, after luring the other title contenders into a false sense of security?

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If van Gaal can use that illusiveness to his advantage, if he can force philosophical and tactical doubts into the minds of his rival managers, United stand a good chance of getting something out of their coming fixtures. The tie against Arsenal bears particular significance – if United clean up against the Gunners, as most title contenders appear to nowadays, they’ll push themselves further towards a mini-league with City and Chelsea.

But that’s an undeniably optimistic perspective, largely dependent on other results and the assumption that United will be able to find a higher gear against more challenging opposition. The Red Devils have more than enough potential to impact this season’s title race, but whether their style lacks the required substance will become evident between now and the end of November.

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