Are the Manchester clubs invinsible after all?

Both Manchester clubs only managed to draw their opening Champions League games this week. Those performances could be indicative of trouble ahead, writes Boakye Kwame.

We’re only four Premier League games into the new season, and the two Manchester clubs have already scored 32 goals between them. The red and blue sides of Manchester began their tremendous start of the season with a mouthwatering Manchester derby in the Community Shield.

Joleon Lescott took the lead for City and an Edin Dzeko long range shot beat Manchester United’s new £18 million signing David de Gea after the rookie goalkeeper made a howler to give Manchester City a 2-0 lead before the break. Manchester United meant business in the second-half and they completed what was arguably the most entertaining ever comeback in a Community Shield game. City went so far to as to show their immense hunger for silverware by accidently publishing a 3-2 Community Shield win in their favour on their official website.

The Premier League’s commencement saw champions Manchester United struggle for the three points away at West Bromwich Albion while Manchester City had a comfortable win at home to Premier League new boys Swansea. Matchday three delivered the most astonishing results this season as Manchester sunk London. City had scored five past Tottenham Hotspur before Manchester United’s clash with Arsenal and any thought that the Premier League champions were yearning to surrender their pride to their ‘noisy neighbors’ was illusory.

A tremendous display saw United hit eight past one of their fieriest rivals, Arsenal. The subsequent week wasn’t any better for their adversaries as the Manchester clubs maintained their 100% record and have registered four hat-tricks between them so far.

The Premier League seemed to have bowed to the Manchester clubs but Europe had a different response. Champions League football in midweek saw United make a tricky trip to Benfica while City entertained Napoli in their Champions League debut. Both sides couldn’t exhibit the quality they had already shown in the Premier League and they had to share the spoils with their continental opponents.

Why did their incredible early season form elude them? Were United lacking the pace and stamina of the younger members of their squad? Were City diffident in their Champions League debut? Or have the prodigious Manchester clubs fallen? Reflecting on Chelsea’s start to last season and subsequent implosion might give other Premier League clubs a sign of relief after watching the Manchester clubs in midweek but not to acknowledge the menace posed by the Manchester clubs will be exceedingly perilous.

The upcoming round of Premier League fixtures presents another set of Manchester versus London ties-United entertain Chelsea at Old Trafford while City make a trip to Craven Cottage to play Fulham-two key encounters that will ascertain whether the mighty really have fallen.