It’s been a rollercoaster, but we’re on top of the world.
When my spouse and I met in 1995, he was a season ticket holder for Manchester City. As a result, I became a fan of the club.” Once our three sons were mature enough, we began to travel whenever we could. Twelve years ago, we all became season ticket holders. The city’s core supporters have always been present and have supported their team through thick and lean. The majority of football aficionados cannot believe the improvement in football quality over the past decade, which we now witness every week.
“My lads are significantly older now [in their late teens and early twenties]. We were there with two of our three sons on Wednesday; the ambiance was electric and the football was sublime.
“It’s been a rollercoaster ride as a fan, but we’re currently soaring high. The downturns will undoubtedly occur, but for the time being I am living day by day. We must move with the times, and there is money to be made from success, but [the club] must remember to maintain one foot firmly planted on the ground with their loyal fanbase from when they were in Division 2.” London’s Joanna Sargent, 54, is the president and treasurer of a local youth football competition.
There are moral concerns for me as a supporter.
“Since 2011, I have held a season ticket as a lifelong fan of Manchester City.” The many achievements of the City in recent years have brought me considerable joy. However, I experience cognitive dissonance as a supporter. Contributing financially to an initiative that serves as the PR arm of an objectionable regime raises ethical concerns. When the Uefa charges were first levied against the club and I saw a large number of Man City supporters blindly defend the club and its proprietors, I was deeply disturbed.
“Many will argue that they’ve made significant investments in the city, and east Manchester is much nicer than it was before they came involved. However, I believe we need to think critically about this. No matter how much we’d like to believe that the people in command are putting money into the club out of the goodness of their hearts, there’s an ulterior motive, which I believe a lot of people aren’t being entirely forthcoming about.
“I believe there is a moral obligation on our part as fans, but it’s not as if we can just snap our fingers and erase our emotions for the club. In an ideal world, I might turn my back on the club and cease attending games, but this is not the case. I attend matches with my mother. We have shared so many memorable experiences. It’s a chance for me to see her, and if I turn my back on the club, I’m also turning my back on our wonderful memories and positive experiences. I believe we can be supporters and still criticize the owners without defending them. Michael, 27, a worker in Manchester
“Man City is the giant”
“In my opinion, Arsenal won the league this season. When you consider how much money Manchester City spent to win the treble and compare that to how close Arsenal came to winning the league despite having only 11 regular players, it is clear that Arsenal has accomplished more in the league.
Regarding Pep overcoming his jinxes, the match against Real Madrid was indeed fantastic. But a single victory does not make a team exceptional. Not comparable to the squads managed by Brian Clough, Alex Ferguson, or Jürgen Klopp. There is no ingenuity, no drama, and no David versus Goliath. Man City is the Giant.” Peter Wallace, 42, Sunderland fan, Folkestone
The comparisons to Manchester United’s treble annoy me.
“I am a Manchester United supporter, but I will attempt to be as objective as possible. Without a doubt, they are an exceptional team deserving of all their acclaim and every trophy they have won. However, it is annoying to see incessant comparisons to United’s three-time champions in the media. This is not unexpected, but in my opinion, there is no comparison. I do not believe that Guardiola could have accomplished what Alex Ferguson did at United.
Guardiola’s history as a manager is that of a man who inherited a strong club and team, to which he added his stardust. In Messi, Iniesta, and Xavi, he inherited three of the greatest players in the history of the sport. Same in Munich. The City squad and club were then on the rise. Ferguson rebuilt a struggling club over many years by assiduously inserting academy players.
Foden is the only youth close to being a regular for City, but he rarely appears. Success to them, but I find it quite shocking that, despite their lauded youth program, they can’t seem to recruit many young people. Stephen Ramsden, 67, is a Manchester United supporter from Broadstairs.
There is an ongoing campaign to defame City.
The Abu Dhabi proprietors have not simply thrown money around haphazardly; they have executed a business strategy with precision and success. Numerous media outlets, social media sites, and sports correspondents engage in an ongoing campaign of defamation. Many accuse the club of “sportswashing” and of being “poisonous” to the sport, but they are blinded by their jealousy and cannot see what is occurring behind the scenes.
City has not only invested in its team, but also in the local community of Manchester, including a sixth-form college, a leisure center, and accommodation for the community. Their success on the field is entirely due to the hiring of Pep Guardiola. He is a master of the footballing discipline. Pep has assembled a team of modest and affable individuals. The squad has a strong sense of solidarity and family.
Guardiola has indirectly transformed English football, with numerous clubs attempting to imitate his style, and this can only benefit our sport on the international level. Liverpool has experienced success, and so has Manchester United. Manchester City has entered a new era; now is their turn.” Chris Rafferty, age 50, is a businessman in Manchester.
