Rewind nine years and Manchester City were eight points behind Manchester United with six games to go and went on to become champions.
If few anticipate a role reversal now, not least because there is no Manchester derby to help effect a swing, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is retaining his hopes of regaining the title. “It is probably unrealistic but stranger things have happened in football,” the United manager said.
Certainly United, who are 12 points ahead of fifth-place Chelsea and have already equalled their points tally for the whole of last season, are close to achieving one of their objectives for the campaign. The Champions League beckons for them. Normally that would be something to celebrate.
Amid talk of a European Super League and threats of sanctions for anyone who signs up, that no longer appears to be the case. It no longer seems enough.
But in Mason Greenwood, United have a talent worth savouring. When the teenager was in a 15-game goal drought, it seemed a case of second-season syndrome for last year’s shooting star. Now he has four goals in three league matches, three of them late strikes.
“I have always been confident he would score,” said Solskjaer. “He is a natural finisher and a fantastic finisher and the improvement in his overall game has been there for everyone to see. He’s maturing. It’s lovely to see.”
Burnley rued the fact Greenwood’s decisive second took a double deflection off Charlie Taylor and Jack Cork. “A bit of bad luck,” lamented manager Sean Dyche. “They got one out of the blue.” Burnley were agonisingly close to a point and yet defiance brought no reward. They are now closer to the bottom three.
They might have been in a European Super League had one been created in 1960, but rarely since then. They nevertheless produced the obdurate display of underdogs battling to stay at this level. United were underwhelming in the first half; eventually, their quality and strength in depth told.
“A closer affair than the scoreline suggested,” said Dyche. “We chased the game and they got a third.” Bailey Peacock-Farrell had to make a fine save to deny Scott McTominay, Bruno Fernandes struck a post and with gaps opening up and the Portuguese providing a key pass, two substitutes combined, Donny van de Beek giving Cavani a tap-in.
The game was bookended by the game going in the same net. Chris Wood headed in after 10 seconds, with United spared by an offside flag and Dean Henderson, who had charged off his line in a failed attempt to claim Matt Lowton’s cross, particularly fortunate. “A wake-up call for him,” said Solskjaer. It was one of four chances for Wood, a regular scourge of United. “We got in some brilliant positions which is not easy when we come to these grounds,” added Dyche.
Peacock-Farrell deputised well for the injured Nick Pope with saves from Paul Pogba, Marcus Rashford and Fernandes. Solskjaer, who had rested Cavani, summoned him at the break.
The Uruguayan can be a catalyst but his influence was indirect. His arrival released Rashford to play on the left and his dynamic break, including a nutmeg on the unfortunate Lowton, was capped by an unselfish pass to pick out Greenwood.
Yet United were pegged back after 114 seconds. Set-piece problems have been a theme of United’s season. They recurred again when James Tarkowski rose above Harry Maguire to head in Ashley Westwood’s corner. “Any time they get a cross in with their quality, you've got your heart in your mouth,” admitted Solskjaer.
But United came on strong again. Rashford was outstanding, playing longer than Solskjaer thought he would. “Second half he played so well,” he said. “He lasted for 80 minutes so that was progress.” For a second successive Sunday, they scored three goals after the break. Solskjaer added: “I am really proud that we never give up.” Not in the game or the title race.
Spain drain
CONVICTED
Lionel Messi Found guilty in 2016 of of using companies in Belize, Britain, Switzerland and Uruguay to avoid paying €4.1m in taxes on income earned from image rights. Sentenced to 21 months in jail and fined more than €2m. But prison sentence has since been replaced by another fine of €252,000.
Javier Mascherano Accepted one-year suspended sentence in January 2016 for tax fraud after found guilty of failing to pay €1.5m in taxes for 2011 and 2012. Unlike Messi he avoided trial by admitting to tax evasion.
Angel di Maria Argentina and Paris Saint-Germain star Angel di Maria was fined and given a 16-month prison sentence for tax fraud during his time at Real Madrid. But he is unlikely to go to prison as is normal in Spain for first offences for non-violent crimes carrying sentence of less than two years.
SUSPECTED
Cristiano Ronaldo Real Madrid's star striker, accused of evading €14.7m in taxes, appears in court on Monday. Portuguese star faces four charges of fraud through offshore companies.
Jose Mourinho Manchester United manager accused of evading €3.3m in tax in 2011 and 2012, during time in charge at Real Madrid. But Gestifute, which represents him, says he has already settled matter with Spanish tax authorities.
Samuel Eto'o In November 2016, Spanish prosecutors sought jail sentence of 10 years and fines totalling €18m for Cameroonian, accused of failing to pay €3.9m in taxes during time at Barcelona from 2004 to 2009.
Radamel Falcao Colombian striker Falcao suspected of failing to correctly declare €7.4m of income earned from image rights between 2012 and 2013 while at Atletico Madrid. He has since paid €8.2m to Spanish tax authorities, a sum that includes interest on the original amount.
Jorge Mendes Portuguese super-agent put under official investigation last month by Spanish court investigating alleged tax evasion by Falcao, a client of his. He defended himself, telling closed-door hearing he "never" advised players in tax matters.
Day 1, Abu Dhabi Test: At a glance
Moment of the day Dimuth Karunaratne had batted with plenty of pluck, and no little skill, in getting to within seven runs of a first-day century. Then, while he ran what he thought was a comfortable single to mid-on, his batting partner Dinesh Chandimal opted to stay at home. The opener was run out by the length of the pitch.
Stat of the day - 1 One six was hit on Day 1. The boundary was only breached 18 times in total over the course of the 90 overs. When it did arrive, the lone six was a thing of beauty, as Niroshan Dickwella effortlessly clipped Mohammed Amir over the square-leg boundary.
The verdict Three wickets down at lunch, on a featherbed wicket having won the toss, and Sri Lanka’s fragile confidence must have been waning. Then Karunaratne and Chandimal's alliance of precisely 100 gave them a foothold in the match. Dickwella’s free-spirited strokeplay meant the Sri Lankans were handily placed at 227 for four at the close.
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Itcan profile
Founders: Mansour Althani and Abdullah Althani
Based: Business Bay, with offices in Saudi Arabia, Egypt and India
Sector: Technology, digital marketing and e-commerce
Size: 70 employees
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Funding: Self-funded to date
What vitamins do we know are beneficial for living in the UAE
Vitamin D: Highly relevant in the UAE due to limited sun exposure; supports bone health, immunity and mood.
Vitamin B12: Important for nerve health and energy production, especially for vegetarians, vegans and individuals with absorption issues.
Iron: Useful only when deficiency or anaemia is confirmed; helps reduce fatigue and support immunity.
Omega-3 (EPA/DHA): Supports heart health and reduces inflammation, especially for those who consume little fish.
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Company name: Fine Diner
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Co-founders: Sami Elayan, Saed Elayan and Zaid Azzouka
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THE BIO
Ms Davison came to Dubai from Kerala after her marriage in 1996 when she was 21-years-old
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Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.
Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.
“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.
“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.
Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.
From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.
Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.
BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.
Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.
Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.
“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.
“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.
“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”
