This Premier League season has been one of the most exciting in recent years, the football being played has been at a brilliant standard and English football in general has done itself proud on the European stage. The Premier League has a reputation for being exciting but has failed to attract big money players and world class managers in the past.

However, things are changing and the best players and the best managers are moving to England in search of success. This season saw the reemergence of Jose Mourinho as he took over Manchester United, following his departure from Chelsea in 2015. The Premier League also welcomed the debut season for Pep Guardiola as he took over Manchester City.

As the season draws to a close, many are wondering who has had the upper hand. Pep will finish his first ever campaign as manger without winning a trophy, his Manchester City side are currently fourth and are no longer in any other competition. Whereas, Mourinho’s men grabbed their first piece of silverware in Feburary’s EFL Cup Final as they beat Southampton 3-2. 

“duke-0525” by Thomas Rodenbücher (CC BY 2.0)

Although, the former Chelsea manager isn’t done yet, his Man Utd side are chasing their Manchester counter-parts for a top four finish. Utd are just one point behind City and as always – the top four race is set up to be just as exciting as the race for first place. As predicted by Oddschecker, Liverpool came out victorious against Watford on Monday, and now sit comfortably in third place.

As well as winning a trophy already and trying to push Pep off fourth place – Mourinho has the little matter of a Europa League semi-final to attend to. Man United play Celta Vigo in one half of the tournament and Ajax play Lyon on the other. Manchester United are favourites to win the competition, which would certainly prove a point or two to those who mocked United for being sixth place for so long earlier in the season.

Manchester United go from 7th to 5th, completely skipping 6th place. pic.twitter.com/zQlmeoq251

— Footy Memes (@FootyMemes) March 19, 2017

Manchester City haven’t had as much success with Pep, they recently lost out at a chance in the FA Cup Final when Arsenal beat them 2-1 and prior to that they were beaten by Champions League Semi-finalists Monaco in the round of 16.

Written by Tom Wilson.