Ander Herrera believes Manchester City are under pressure to be the Premier League champions because of their record-breaking summer transfer spend and their lack of silverware last season.
United’s 4-0 victory over Everton at Old Trafford on Sunday made José Mourinho’s side joint-leaders with their neighbours. United and City have an identical record of 13 points and a positive goal difference of 14 after five games.
Last season, United won two major trophies – the EFL Cup and Europa League – plus the Community Shield, whereas City returned a blank in Pep Guardiola’s first year in charge. During the summer, he oversaw an investment of £226m as Danilo, Kyle Walker, Benjamin Mendy, Bernardo Silva and Ederson were added to his squad. Mourinho’s spend was still a sizeable £146m, bringing in Romelu Lukaku, Nemanja Matic and Victor Lindelof, but Herrera believes the onus is more on City to end the season with silverware.
“Man City have spent the biggest amount in the Premier League so they are the principal contenders for the title,” the United midfielder said. “We will try to be there as well. We have quality as well and we will fight. But I think because of the money they have spent they are the favourites. There is always pressure when you spend a lot but there is also pressure on us because we are the biggest club in England.
“We won three titles last season and City didn’t win anything. They need titles. They are obligated to win titles. We won three last season so they have more obligation than us. But you know when you play for Man United wining is an expectation and an obligation but I like that obligation to be honest.”
Herrera said Real Madrid will continue try to prise David de Gea away and that United have to constantly win trophies to retain the goalkeeper.
“Of course I can see him staying here for more years,” Herrera said. “How good is David now? We need to win titles to keep him with us. That is what we did last season.
“David is really happy at the moment because we are fighting for everything. Real Madrid are going to talk about it every summer because he is the best keeper in the world. But we don’t think we are far from Real Madrid, we won three titles last season, the only English team to do it.”
Herrera has lost his place in United’s team, making only one start this season. While his place has been taken by Matic and, in the injured Paul Pogba’s absence, Maraoune Fellaini the Spaniard insists the competition is welcome.
The 28-year-old said: “I can learn from Nemanja and from Felli, he has some abilities that we don’t have in midfield. Paul Pogba is our most free midfielder and I can learn from him as well.
“I feel as important as I did last season. I am a team player and if the manager decides to keep me on the bench I will be ready.”