It’s been a difficult week for English football. A shadow is hanging over the club I have poured my love into since 1969.
I fell for Francis Lee, Mike Summerbee and Colin Bell. My friends were George Best and Mancunian red but I was never lured by automatic success and after years of being underdogs, City now bark the loudest.
There is a special blend of satisfaction that comes with being a Manchester City fan. Having the best team in the world brings an unbridled sense of pride to those of us who feel a deep attachment to whoever is wearing sky blue with the City crest.
Over the last few years, Pep Guardiola has sculpted the perfect panel. Two, sometimes three elite superstars competing for every position. Their abilities leaving gifted gatherings elsewhere in Manchester, across in Liverpool and down in London floundering in their wake. This is perfection or as the headline writers say “Pepfection”.
It is a joy to watch. Sometimes they are flawless, often they aren’t, but on those off days they most usually excel in the end. There is a sense of confidence, desire and general workmanship alongside a wealth of natural talent that ensures these players are habitual winners.
Other great teams, especially those under the guidance of Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United, have helped to make the Premier League the benchmark for global football but nothing equals the Manchester City formulae of the last few years.
It wasn’t always like this. In the late 1990s they were in the third division. City struggled but their fans never abandoned them and that loyalty was rewarded when our oil rich owners took control. They knew Manchester City had global appeal and now the club is a who’s who of soccer stardom. The Premier League is not only better thanks to the presence of this great club but it owes a debt of gratitude to those who drive Man City in the direction of total domination.
As we know, however, this is not the case. The League has levelled charges against the club on the grounds of financial irregularity and seem prepared to continue to pick at a scab until blood is drawn. The case, which started this week, will probably have no winners but one thing is for sure — the loser will be football. There may have been accounting errors or possibly something was lost in financial translation between the UAE and the UK but Man City bosses deny any wrongdoing and as a fan I am confident this great club will have its name cleared.
If for some technical reason a penalty has to be paid by City, then well and good but those making the decisions should give immense consideration to the damage they could cause to one of England’s greatest ever products.
Blighting the image of Manchester City would cast a blemish across the entire league. The eyes of the world will see envy and an absence of respect towards the club that built on the solid foundations of an excellent league and made it the greatest in the world.
Tampering with the lynchpin of this superstructure could see a collapse the English game might not be capable of surviving. Wise heads must make wise decisions and realise the Premier League needs the modern Manchester City more than anyone can begin to imagine.
The re-inventing of the game was planned and delivered at The Etihad. Every team at every level is now trying to play like Manchester City. Imitation is the ultimate form of flattery. This club should be loudly applauded, not roundly condemned.