Barton offers dreadful, cliched reasoning in Prem title prediction

Joey Barton says Man Utd will pip Man City to the Premier League title because “them South Americans” cannot deal with the cold weather.

Man City lost just once from January 1 until March 11 this year – a run of 14 games during the depths of winter – a fact which has obviously been lost on former City midfielder Barton.

After the first six matches of the Premier League season, both Manchester clubs are neck-and-neck at the summit on 16 points, with only goal difference nudging City ahead of Jose Mourinho’s men.

But Barton, 35, believes United will come out on top because the likes of Sergio Aguero, who incidentally managed 17 goals from January 1 last season, while he plundered 20 goals from January 1 the preceding season, Gabriel Jesus and Claudio Bravo – all South Americans – will not be able to perform in the cold.

“I do (fancy United),” Barton told talkSPORT.

“I do mainly because the manager is a serial winner, he knows how to win.

“Also I think when the cold weather comes and the fixture congestion comes, I think Manchester United have got the physicality to deal with it.

“If you remember last year City started like a house on fire and then the cold snap comes in.

“Them South Americans, I’m not too sure they like it when it gets cold here.”