Ian Wright raises Man Utd title challenge concern Ole Gunnar Solskjaer must overcome

Man Utd: Is there a mental block in semi-finals?

Arsenal legend Ian Wright has detailed why he’s so far been cautious to back Manchester United as title contenders this season. The Red Devils were the in-form team at the end of the last campaign with Bruno Fernandes playing a huge role in helping Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side finish third in the table.

But they failed to carry that good form into the new season with three defeats in their opening six Premier League games.

Inconsistent results in Europe as well saw them fail to qualify for the next round of the Champions League.

But United appear to have turned a corner in the Premier League with just four points dropped in their last 10 fixtures.

They’re now joint level with Liverpool on points at the top of the table with a game in hand, but they’re still not being seriously touted as title contenders like their rivals despite the good run of form.

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When asked why he felt cautious about tipping United for a title charge this season, Wright claims their previously inconsistencies under Solskjaer have made it tough to back them.

“It’s only because Man United back in the day, when they would go into a game to go top, you were thinking, ‘that’s it now. Man United have done it. They know how to finish this off’,” Wright said.

“But when you look at the consistency in those results, you can’t knock it and say it’s luck here or there.

“They’ve played well to do that but in hardly any of those games going in you could say, ‘Man United are going to win this, no problem’.

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“What we’re seeing from Man United is a group of players who realise, for me, ‘that we can do this’.

“And a manager, you’ve got to give him some credit in respects of the man management and the way he’s managed the team and Paul Pogba’s coming back into the team with all the stuff with what happend with his agent.

“Bruno Fernandes obviously is the leader and Pogba is playing his aprt in it.

“For me, if Man United can win that game against Burnley and show consistency when they get to the top then you have to say Man United have a great chance of winning the league.”

United will be hoping to move top when they travel to face Burnley on Tuesday, but the real test will come a few days later against Liverpool.

Solskjaer will have a few days to give his players some rest and get them ready for the crunch fixture.

United haven’t won at Anfield since January 2016 but six of the last nine matches between the two English giants have ended in a draw.

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