Manchester United 'better' than Man City, says Ander Herrera amid battle for top four
The Spain international explains why his side can come out on top in the race for Champions League football
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Your support makes all the difference.Ander Herrera says that Manchester United are currently "better" than Manchester City as the battle for the top four intensifies.
Manchester United ensured the gap between themselves and their fourth-placed near neighbours remains at just one point thanks to a 1-0 win over Everton a day after Man City beat Bournemouth 4-0.
Herrera has explained why he thinks United can usurp the side above them over the next seven games and qualify for the Champions League.
“I think the last game [against City] showed that we are a little bit better than them right now,” the United midfielder said. “We beat them away in the Manchester derby so we can be optimistic."
Herrera also pointed towards the return of first team players Ashley Young, Phil Jones, Antonio Valencia and Luke Shaw. Young and Jones were involved with the Manchester United U21s last night, Valencia recently returned to first-team action and Shaw is back in training following a broken leg.
“Man City has a bigger squad – very good players - but I think right now we can fight against them. We are recovering some important players like Ash, Antonio [Valencia], Phil Jones and Shaw," said Herrera.
“They are going to help us and there is a lot of experience. It’s not going to be easy because City also want to be in the Champions League but I think we are ready to do it [finish in the top four].”
Herrera also believes that Manchester City face some tough challenges in the run-in - notably their game against relegation threatened Newcastle.
“They have to play against Newcastle away who playing (to avoid) relegation so it is going to be tough for them,” Herrera said. “When we play against a top team I am not so worried about our performance because we usually do quite well against top teams.
“The most difficult games for us or when I am a little bit more worried is when we’re not playing against top teams.”
Manchester United's seven remaining games will see them play Tottenham, Aston Villa, Crystal Palace, Leicester, Norwich, West Ham and Bournemouth.
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