So when did Manchester City finally cross over from “wannabe” contenders to a proper force in English football? Was it the arrival of the Arab Sheikhs? The first big deadline-day swoop (Robinho)? Qualifying for the Champions League? The realisation they don’t need Carlos Tevez? Or the recent derby demolition at Old Trafford?
Any of the above could be argued to be a factor. However, you may have to travel a bit further to get a true sign of their new standing. If you’ve ever talked English football with an average American, Australian or Asian football fan, chances are the conversation will revolve around Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool or Manchester.
Yep, Manchester. Any City fan hearing Manchester used to describe only United probably dies a bit inside every time they hear it. But something has changed. Having spent the last few months in the U.S., I’ve listened to a good bit of “soccer” analysis of English football and City finally seem to have arrived on the global map.
References to Manchester are being replaced with “Maaaan U” and “Maaaan City”. Manchester has two clubs again. Admittedly, it may take a while for the amount of City shirts you see on the streets of New York, Sydney or Bangkok to match those of United. On the other hand, Chelsea and Abramovich’s millions have done it so there’s no reason why Mansour’s billions won’t follow suit.
City’s tour of the U.S. in the summer shows they are well on their way to following United, Chelsea and Liverpool’s search for global domination. Even Arsenal succumbed to the pressure and went to Asia.
Yet there is still one hurdle City need to clear to truly be a player on the global football fans map. It may be cynical to suggest all foreign English football fans are glory hunters, but until they claim the Premier League title or the Champions League (or both) then “Rooney 10”, “Gerrard 8” and “Van Persie 10” may still outnumber “Aguero 16” on the streets of Asia, America and beyond for a little while longer.
Grant Fisken