Manchester United's vertigo upon reaching the top of the Premier League table has been evident in recent weeks, and David Meyler says it's down to the squad's lack of experience in a title race in recent years.
United were beaten by Sheffield United last Wednesday, before following it up with a scoreless draw at a depleted Arsenal on Saturday, surrendering top spot to neighbours Man City
David Meyler joined Ger and Eoin on Monday's OTB AM, and says United's lack of a "champion mentality" has been evident in their most recent outings.
Following their draw at Arsenal, Roy Keane suggested it was a worse result than their defeat to the Blades, and David Meyler says it's an argument that does hold water.
"You can see why they would say it. Of course you should be bitterly disappointed with Sheffield United. It's very different when you play a team who are fighting for their lives in a relegation scrap.
"Certainly when Arsenal are missing three of their best players, Saka, Tierney and Aubameyang all out, you're thinking 'this is our opportunity...'. Any Manchester United fan if they are honest, when they watched the game, United players almost lacked that belief in themselves to go on (and win).
"They were at the top of the mountain, but it's almost as if they got cold feet and got a little bit nervous.
"It's probably a lack of a champion mentality in that changing room to go on and be the ones to say: 'We are number one, everyone is coming for us', to have that target on their back. Over the last couple of seasons they've been trying to hunt teams down," Meyler said.
The former Republic of Ireland captain pointed out that building a title challenge is a process though - citing Liverpool's consistent seasons testing Man City for the title before going on to win it themselves last season. Meyler also highlighted United's habit of scoring late goals this season as a sign they're starting to believe in themselves.
"They have a a winning mentality, they've shown it getting late goals in games, but it was certainly disappointing in the way that against Liverpool they should have gone on and won it, against Arsenal the chances they created.... Cavani has to be scoring those. It was that lack of a sense that they can go and win the league.
"They'll bounce back. Do I think they'll win the league? No I don't. I think Man City are in the driving seat, but United are up there."
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