T

he hunger to win and making good signings have been the difference between Manchester United and Manchester City this season.

United and City’s results prior to the international break were apt summaries of the teams’ performances in this campaign.

Outplayed by Everton after turning in an uninspiring display at Goodison Park, Roberto Mancini’s men did not look like a team that could reduce the deficit between themselves and the league leaders. Conversely, the Red Devils were still able to grind out a narrow victory over Reading despite playing well below their best.

Sir Alex Ferguson will likely be the first to admit that his team have not always performed to expectation, but the hunger to wrest back the title is evident in each victory they have picked up during their relentless charge to a 15 point lead.

City fans can perhaps point fingers at star players like Sergio Aguero and Vincent Kompany spending time in the treatment room, or Yaya Toure failing to recapitulate his sterling form from last season, but all that tells me is the club lacked foresight in improving the quality of its playing staff.

Knowing that United was going to come at them this season was the best possible reason for the them to strengthen their ranks, yet the club chose to bring in players like Javi Garcia or Scott Sinclair — who have done nothing to improve the City squad — before sitting on their hands during the January window.

On their day, Mancini’s team is capable of taking down any opposition, but unfortunately for the Italian, days when City has been able to do that have not occurred often enough this season. Newcastle will be hoping for another flat display from them when the two teams play each other this weekend, although I am fairly certain Alan Pardew will be content to leave the Etihad Stadium with a point.

Southampton knows all about pulling off upsets, after wins against City and more recently, over Liverpool. Since Mauricio Pochettino took over the helm the Saints have improved tremendously and now look capable of beating experienced Premier League sides.

They will go into their game against Chelsea attempting to snatch three points. Southampton is not easy to beat at St Mary’s and the Blues might end up paying a heavy price should Rafa Benitez choose not to field a strong line-up.  

As the only big team juggling league, cup and European duties, Chelsea is in the midst of a tricky balancing act.

A club of Chelsea’s stature cannot afford to miss out on the Champions League, so a top four finish domestically is a must, yet Benitez will also be eyeing some silverware as proof that his reign was not a complete failure. With the season drawing to a close, the next few games will have a huge impact on the Blues’ report card.  

The end of the season should also prove to be a nervy time for Tottenham and the team’s fans will no doubt be praying the club’s manages to hold on to fourth spot after losing back-to-back league games.

However, any talk of crisis is premature in my opinion.  The fixture calendar has not been kind to Andre Villas-Boas’ men over the past month, but I expect them to return from the international break rejuvenated and prepared to get their campaign back on track, starting with a visit to Swansea.

Achieving a placing in the Champions League would be the least Spurs can do for their manager, as he has clearly proved his Chelsea critics wrong by turning Tottenham into an imposing side this season.

Former Liverpool and England International Steve McMahon is a soccer expert with Fox Sports’ The Verdict, on every Monday at 8 p.m. HKT.