My reaction to the " Get Involved " program today on Sky Sports. I bet it never gets a mention.-----------------------------------
Having listened to the discussion today on the get involved program on Sky Sports, I feel compelled to address what seems to be the default narrative whenever Manchester City is mentioned, the constant reference to money. It is spoken about as though success has simply been purchased, as though that alone explains everything. It does not.
What is consistently overlooked is leadership, vision and execution. Since the takeover, Manchester City has been transformed not just through investment, but through intelligent, disciplined and strategic management. Yes, money has been invested — but it has been invested with purpose, with planning, and with long-term vision.
Our owners didn’t arrive chasing headlines. They arrived with a blueprint. They modernised the club from top to bottom, appointed world-class professionals at every level, built infrastructure that will serve generations, and revitalised the surrounding community. The Etihad Campus stands as physical proof that this has never been about short-term gain; it has been about building something sustainable and lasting.
Pep Guardiola’s brilliance is undeniable, but he operates within a structure that was carefully constructed long before the trophies began to arrive. Recruitment, youth development, facilities, business operations, everything has been aligned. That is not accidental. That is elite ownership and elite governance.
As supporters, we are not just proud of the silverware, though the achievements speak for themselves: domestic dominance, historic milestones, and European success. We are proud of how it has been done. With professionalism. With stability. With a clear philosophy.
There seems to be an implication in some quarters that success backed by investment is somehow less legitimate. That argument ignores a simple truth: many clubs spend heavily. Very few are run as well as Manchester City. The difference is competence. The difference is leadership.
I remember the day of the takeover clearly. My eldest son, who had worked in Dubai and Abu Dhabi for many years, said to me, “Dad, they don’t fail at what they do.” That statement has proved prophetic. The standards set by our ownership are the standards we now see reflected across the club.
Manchester City supporters are deeply grateful for that vision. We are immensely proud of what has been built. We are confident that the success achieved is not just the result of investment, but also of excellence in management, planning, and execution at every level.
That is the part of the story that deserves equal airtime.
www.theguardian.com
