Is this man’s class of 2012 better than we thought?

There are times when perception and reality are different things.

Alex Ferguson would argue that that’s the case in this season’s title race. Critics and pundits say Manchester United are playing poorly and lack the quality and strength in depth of previous sides. There’s a ‘but’ though. A big one. Domestically United have continued to win games with relentless consistency.

Last season the same criticism was levelled at United yet they won a record 19th league championship and reached a third Champions League final in four years. However that match ended in humiliation as Barcelona took United apart in a one-sided final at Wembley. This season has seen further embarrassment on the European stage as United crashed out of the Champions League before Christmas before bowing out of Europe altogether after a chastening Europa League defeat to Athletic Bilbao earlier this month.