As the world of football holds its collective breath, a new twist in the ongoing saga of Manchester City’s financial irregularities has emerged, with Jose Mourinho predictably wading into the fray. The former Manchester United manager, never one to shy away from controversy, has expressed his belief that his former club still has a chance of winning the Premier League title, should City be found guilty of violating financial regulations.
The Premier League’s charges against City, which date back to 2009, are nothing short of eye-watering. If found guilty, the punishments could include points deductions, fines, transfer bans, and even the stripping of titles. As currently stands, City’s storied history includes three titles won during the period in question, with United finishing second on two occasions.
But Mourinho, never one to pass up an opportunity to promote his old club, is still holding out hope for what could be a historic comeback. “As you know, we won the Europa League [in 2017] and we finished second in the Premier League [in 2018],” he remarked, with a cheeky grin betraying his true intentions. “I think we still have a chance to win that league because maybe they punish Man City with points, and maybe we win that league and then they have to pay me the bonus and give me the medal.”
The tongue is, of course, firmly in cheek, but Mourinho’s words serve as a reminder that, in the cutthroat world of football, even the most unlikely of prospects can become a reality. The prospect of City’s pool of titles being re-tallyed, with Liverpool’s impressive haul of five stars being rewritten, is a prospect that has left many scratching their heads.
Pep Guardiola, ever the stalwart defender of his beloved City, has spoken out against what he perceives as the club’s persecution, insisting that some are seeking to erase them from the face of the earth. “I’m sorry, I want to defend my club, especially in these modern days when everyone is expecting us not [only] to be relegated, to be disappeared off the face of the Earth, the world.”
As the hearing’s outcome draws near, fans and pundits alike will be eagerly monitoring the developments, with Mourinho’s words serving as a gentle reminder that, in the world of football, nothing is ever quite as settled as it seems. Will City’s crown be taken away, or will Mourinho’s prophecy become reality? Only time will tell.
