Being hated is part and parcel of being at the top. When you dominate like we have, breaking records and setting new standards, envy follows naturally. The media, opposition fans, and pundits can spin it however they like, but facts don’t lie: Manchester City are the greatest English team of this era, and we’re well on our way to being regarded as one of the biggest clubs in the world.
Liverpool and United earned their “biggest club” labels over decades, but let’s not forget they’ve had far more time to build that legacy. City’s journey to the top only truly started in 2008, and in just 15 years, we’ve achieved things most clubs can only dream of: five Premier League titles in six years, a treble, and four-in-a-row—a feat no other English team has managed.
What’s even more impressive is the how: the football we’ve played under Pep is revolutionary. The world’s best players want to come here, and our fan base is growing exponentially worldwide. Give it another decade of sustained success, and the narrative will shift. Hate or no hate, greatness can’t be ignored forever.
As a fan base, we need to embrace the hate. It’s a sign of how far we’ve come. They hated us when we were down, they hate us now we’re up—it doesn’t matter. What matters is that Manchester City are building a legacy, and whether they like it or not, we’re here to stay. The so-called “big boys” should be worried, because soon enough, we’ll overshadow them.
