We’re off to the Etihad. We’ll have something to celebrate.
The season’s coming to an end and it brings a trip to sun-soaked Manchester. Since the fixtures came out this one’s gone from hope we don’t need to get a result to potential title-decider to hope we don’t need to get a result to meaningless end of season stroll. It’ll be a case of excitement, don’t get none.
They haven’t won the league this season, which would be funny if it wasn’t for the team who have won it. Neither of them use the rules, they’re for fools and they know if you play the game you get nothing out of it.
When we played Manchester City in this fixture in February 2023 they’d just been charged. Three years and three months later the charges are no nearer to being heard. In that time they’ve won the league and FA Cup twice each, the Champions League, the Super Cup and the World Club Championship. No reason to play fair, indeed.
Their manager’s leaving so there’ll be a lot of fuss made about that. I’d like to appreciate what he’s done for them, but really, there’s nothing there. He played a computer game on cheat mode, sucked the joy out of everything he touched and when he’s gone they’ll get someone else to do exactly the same.
A couple of their players are going as well, and if they haven’t been replaced yet, they soon will be, not with inspired signings of relative unknowns or promising youngsters, but by throwing money at whoever they want.
And then there’s the Villa. Unai’s admitted that a few of our players might not be in the right frame of mind, or body, to play and I doubt there’s anyone who could blame them.
Because Wednesday night meant more to us than if Manchester City win every trophy between now and either the end of time or when those charges are finally heard, whichever comes first. And you’re a fool if you don’t know that. Have a good summer.
