Crystal Palace manager Patrick Vieira believes Manchester United have what it takes to be in contention to win the Premier League title this season.
Vieira has made the admission ahead of his side welcoming the Reds to Selhurst Park on Wednesday evening. United will make the long trip south knowing that a win will lift them up to second in the table, moving them to within six points of current table-toppers Arsenal in the process.
United stretched their winning run in all competitions to nine matches on Saturday with a 2-1 triumph over Manchester City, moving themselves to within a point of their cross-city rivals. The Reds' ultimate ambition this season is to finish inside the top-four and secure Champions League qualification for next season, meaning talk of being in the title race is an added bonus.
READ MORE: Wout Weghorst in contention to make United debut vs Palace
And for Palace chief Vieira, who has seen his side win just one of their last five Premier League matches, it promises to be a stern test for his players, addressing how United's fortunes from last term have been transformed.
"When you look at the last couple of games [Manchester United have] played, the number of wins they had and how close they are to the top, I think they can be [in a title race]," Vieira told Palace's club website. "It's a different United [to last season].
"What will be important for us is to play like we did [against Chelsea]: with a lot of intensity and with a lot of discipline. At home, in front of our fans, if we manage to play the kind of game we played [against Chelsea], we will have more chance of winning the game."
Palace have struggled for form since the campaign resumed following the conclusion of the World Cup, losing four of their last five matches in league and cup. With his side in desperate need of three points, Vieira has challenged his players to show more ruthlessness against United.
"We want to improve every aspect of the football club," he added. Look at the performance we had [against Chelsea]. In that performance, we showed ambition in the way we want to play the game.
"We keep working and we keep believing in ourselves, because the chances are there. I want my players to be more ruthless inside the box and take those chances."
READ NEXT:
