How to win the EPL - A guide

Who will win the EPL this year?

Winning your domestic title is easier said than done. In the 20 years since the Premier League was founded, only six managers have achieved it – Sir Alex Ferguson (Manchester United), Kenny Dalglish (Blackburn Rovers), Arsene Wenger (Arsenal), Jose Mourinho (Chelsea), Carlo Ancelotti (Chelsea) and Roberto Mancini (Manchester City). You need the right players, the right tactics, the right mentality and a bit of luck along the way. This coming season, it will be tougher than ever to finish on top of the pile. Here are a few tips for any Premier League manager looking to win the trophy:

1) Hit the ground running

A good start is imperative to a successful campaign. You can’t win the league in the first few months, but you can certainly lose it. While new managers are getting used to their teams, they will still be expected to get wins under their belt. David Moyes and Manuel Pellegrini, in particular, will need strong starts to their tenures if they are serious over their title ambitions.

2) Responding to defeat

With the exception of Arsenal’s Invincibles, all Premier League teams have lost over the course of the season. What’s most important to the title contenders is how they react to these losses. A one-off defeat will be a small blip on the way to glory. However, a run of games without a win will suddenly change the atmosphere around a club. Questions will be asked, and trigger-happy club owners may be forced into a change. Keeping morale and confidence up will be key for every manager, especially in the darker hours.

3) Avoid injuries and suspensions

Losing players is part and parcel of the game. It’s when key players go missing for a prolonged time that a season’s outcome can change drastically. Last season, Manchester City struggled defensively without club captain Vincent Kompany. The season before, neighbours Manchester United had to make do without centre-half Nemanja Vidic for over half the campaign, and finished second. The challenging teams will need their best players to be available at all times to stand a chance of winning the league.

4) Strength and depth

Linked to the last point, a club manager needs quality in every position on the pitch. Quality is also required off it. If a change is needed in a game, you want to be able to look to your bench to find the answer. A strong playing squad, with enough cover in every position, will give those answers. Again, if your star striker is missing for a few games, it’s a chance for someone else to prove themselves. Focus is needed from the players that aren’t starting each week, as they will need to slot straight in when required. It’s up to the managers to ensure that their standards don’t drop when out of the team.

5) Keep calm and carry on

When things aren’t going to plan, it’s vital to keep your head for the sake of those around you. Players respond to their manager, and a manager showing signs of stress and strain will transfer that onto the pitch. Kevin Keegan’s infamous outburst in 1996 virtually handed the title to Manchester United when he was in charge of Newcastle United. Likewise, Rafael Benitez’s bizarre ‘facts’ rant at a Liverpool press conference in 2009 played into the hands of Sir Alex Ferguson, who again emerged victorious. When opposing managers are attempting mind games, don’t get drawn in.

This isn’t an exhaustive list, but are some basic points for the likes of Moyes, Pellegrini, Mourinho and Wenger to bear in mind. It’s a long, tough trek through a Premier League season, and to finish as winners is an incredible feat. The 2013/2014 is shaping up to the most competitive yet. One thing is for certain, whoever is holding the trophy aloft come next May will have earned it.