Former Manchester City and Liverpool star Craig Bellamy revealed that Manchester United are still nowhere near the two current Premier League titans in the English top division.
The former Wales international thinks it could be another “three of four years” before Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side challenge for the title against the two dominant forces in England.
The Red Devils haven’t won the Premier League since 2013, following the departure of legendary manager Sir Alex Ferguson marking the beginning of a frustrating new era of mediocrity at Manchester United.Norwegian manager
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer took over in December 2018 after Jose Mourinho’s was fired and has since then, the 47-year-old has attempted to restore the club’s core values on and off the pitch – with rather sporadic results.
Manchester United finished sixth on the Premier League table last season while also extending their trophyless run across all competitions to two whole years.
The first half of the 2019-20 season was equally underwhelming, but performances have improved since the turn of the year, with January signings Bruno Fernandes and Odion Ighalo providing a helping hand to lift the mood around the club.
Solskjaer guided Manchester United on an 11-match unbeaten run before the coronavirus crisis halted football in England suggesting that the club were on their path of restoring the glory days.
Meanwhile, Craig Bellamy stated that there is still a “big gap” between United and the Premier League’s top two sides, who are both considered to be streaks ahead when it comes to the levels of “intensity” on the pitch.
While speaking to Sky Sports, the 40-year-old former Wales star explained that it would take at least three to four years for Manchester United to reach the levels of the top two, “Coronavirus hit, and it seemed to be quite a good time at Manchester United, everyone is talking about Manchester United, but they are nowhere near these two clubs. Nowhere near. And it’s going to take a good three or four years to get near. The balance [City and Liverpool] have in the team, the way they play, the intensity they play at, the pressing and understanding of what they’re doing, takes them well ahead. These two teams are a big gap ahead of anyone else.”
