Chief Executive Officer of City Football Group, Ferran Soriano defended Manchester City’s rise to the top earlier today.
His statements came following the announcement of an expanded partnership deal with OKX. The crypto exchange and Web3 company were the 22/23 Training Kit Partners. However, their new partnership will see their logo feature on the left sleeve of the playing kits for both the men and women’s first teams.
Reports also surfaced today that Manchester City could set a new British record for club revenue this year. The previous record was set by Manchester United in 2018-2019.
But after a historic season for the Blues, in which they claimed the treble and £300m in prize rewards, they could overtake their neighbours. According to Mike Keegan of the Daily Mail, they are set to break the £700m revenue barrier.
In addition to their prize money, they have seen an increase of 80% on commercial revenue, with broadcasting and media funds on top, making up for a large sum.
Ferran Soriano stated: “We haven’t done anything that was out of the ordinary.”
Simon Bajkowski for the Manchester Evening News reported: “However, the club still remain dogged by Premier League charges accusing them of misrepresenting their finances for almost a decade that, if proven, could be serious enough to see the Blues expelled from the league.
“Despite the best intentions of the current squad, there is still suspicion from outside the Etihad of how legitimate their success is.”
One could argue that it is difficult to agree with those who believe the latter statement. What City bosses have or have not done behind closed doors is yet to be evidenced. Nevertheless, the squad has nothing to do with the business aspect of the club.
The squad train hard. They play with desire. Fighting with everything they have, at times to the detriment of their own fitness. As many other clubs have proven, money alone does not buy success.
Questions over the squad and legitimacy of their success, regardless of intentions, would be an incredible oversight of the work and dedication that Guardiola and this team have put in.
It could be seen as overlooking the psychological strength and resilience it takes to repeatedly challenge at the highest level. And physical toll it takes to accomplish the levels of performance to achieve said success.
