We all know that professional football players, or any pro sportsperson for that matter, are not supposed to bet on games in which they are involved. Some do, of course, and when they are caught out there can be some serious repercussions for them, so I wonder how many of them get their wives and girlfriends to do it for them?
Even if they do not do this, there is a theory that the women involved in relationships with players are just as likely to bet on sports than the players themselves. If that is true then I reckon there could be quote a few well to do and famous ladies having a flutter on the big game in the EFL cup tonight, which sees Manchester United take on local rivals Man City. SmartBets has the home side as narrow favourites at 2.6 with City at 2.9, which may surprise some after Jose Mourinho’s team were so heavily beaten at Chelsea in the Premier League last weekend.
I would not expect too much help from the Man United fans unless they see their team start well, because the big summer signings of Paul Pogba and Zlatan Ibrahimovic have been pretty poor of late and their defence will not be helped by the loss due to injury of the other big transfer acquisition Eric Bailly who is set to miss around two months with a knee problem.
The team selection will certainly be interesting and it might just see Mourinho hand a chance to impress to the likes of club captain Wayne Rooney and the out of favour Henrikh Mikhitaryan, who has hardly been seen in a United shirt since his summer transfer from the German Bundesliga club Borussia Dortmund.
If the United WAGs are going to have a flutter, I wonder if they will all stay loyal and wager on the reds, because City have already won at Old Trafford this season in the Premier League and even though the game ended with City on the back foot, this is not a good omen for the Red Devils.
Pep Guardiola does have his own problems, however, with big players like Kevin De Bruyne, Bacary Sagna and Pablo Zabaleta all out of action. The form of City is not too great either, with three draws and two losses in their last five games. He will be desperate to get back on track but also not to lose, so maybe those WAGs thinking of a bet would be batter off going for the draw at 3.45.
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