"Get lost! How dare you ruin what's part of our country, our DNA in this country."
Ian Holloway had some very strong words when asked about the Man City charges.
Guillem’s attempt to “understand” the mindset of Man City is built upon a terrible understanding of what happened I’m afraid.
It ignores other cheating Man City undertook, like the relatively small-fry double compensation contracts, which they didn’t even need to do. They did it because they liked getting one over on the rule setters.
They liked the cheating. That was their mindset.
The Aftermath: Nasri was hit with an official European anti-doping ban, but inside the football world, the incident pulled back the curtain on a quiet truth: high-intensity recovery protocols, intravenous therapies, and grey-area performance treatments were already normalized in the background long before Pep's flight touched down in Manchester.
Chapter 4: The Ultimate Trap, An Island Without Rules
By the time 2016 arrived, City had manufactured the ultimate trap:
1. Financial Alchemy: Project Longbow had successfully hidden hundreds of millions in operating costs behind shell corporations and artificial sponsorships to ensure Pep would have an endless war chest.
2. Medical Immunity: Pep was granted total freedom to airlift players to private Barcelona clinics without internal doctors asking questions.
3. Institutional Protection: City’s legal machinery had demonstrated a ruthless willingness to tie governing bodies up in court indefinitely.
Pep didn't just choose Manchester City for the sporting project. He chose it because it was an island with no traditional board, no press pressure, no rebellious Bavarian doctors, and no boundaries.
The machine had been built, fueled, and tested. All it needed was its driver...
If Man City fail in their appeal(s) against the commission verdict and punishment, it does raise a question: are ALL the clubs in the City Football Group MCO riddled with sham sponsorships and sham contracts that might contravene the rules in various jurisdictions?
This view that City made the league more competitive is… the opposite of the truth. It’s the most dominant spell ever seen in England:
- 100 and 98 points
- two trebles
- four in a row
None of these things had ever been done before
Arsene Wenger is owed an apology after Man City verdict. Football should have listened to his incredible insight in summer of 2011. City picking off another Arsenal player on the back of a record sponsorship deal. His words are so striking in retrospect https://t.co/kjZPV40oV7
Also in my newsletter
City should have been punished for breaches in 2014. It was Gianni Infantino's craven approach - as revealed in football leaks and his approach to Trump - that let them off. This entire story could have been stopped then
https://t.co/pE8J0zrIoA
Back in 2014, there was a man who was already aware of the irregularities involving Manchester City. That man now runs FIFA. The infamous Gianni Infantino, then UEFA General Secretary, abused his authority, shared confidential documents and, in short, outmanoeuvred the Investigatory Chamber, doing everything in his power to ensure that both Manchester City and PSG would merely receive a fine, avoiding a deeper investigation that could have led to a Champions League ban. All of these details were also revealed through Football Leaks.
Given his actions as UEFA General Secretary and, more recently, as FIFA President, I can only say, in my humble opinion, that Gianni Infantino has become a cancer on football and should have no place in the future of the game.
Arsène Wenger won 21 trophies in his managerial career. Imagine what he would’ve won if hadn’t been competing with Bernard Tapie, Roman Abramovich and Khaldoon Al Mubarak.
Had to sell senior players, sold best players...Made sure the club stayed afloat/solvent during the most difficult time in their history. A certain manager called him a 'specialist in failure' while he was still spending mobster money. Thank you, Arsene!