As news filtered through to Manchester United fans at the Stadium of Light that Sergio Aguero had scored a last minute winner to snatch the trophy away from Old Trafford, the rollercoaster of emotions was tangible. From joy to heartbreak with one swing of Aguero’s right foot. This was not supposed to happen. After the game, Sir Alex commented on how his team will be back next season ready to reclaim the trophy. If anyone is to be taken seriously in English Football its Fergie. However, should Mancini and Co. be shaking in their boots at the prospect of the town being painted red again?
The word Dynasty is being thrown around by fans and pundits alike to describe Manchester City’s future. A word that I have not heard once in reference to Sir Alex and the countless trophies he has won with Man United. Of course it is going to be much easier for the Citizens to win trophies. With the financial backing that could support a small country, they are now able to pick and choose from the world’s best players, whose high wages will be covered with consummate ease. With the momentum that City have through an FA Cup win last season and the Premier League title this season, the club stands in good stead. Man United on the other hand may have a tough time coping with the dominance of their noisy neighbours. The club have a young squad that needs time to settle and understand the expectation that comes with playing at Old Trafford.
Summer signings are key for United. With Eden Hazard stating that he will play in Manchester next season, it seems that City and United will be battling it out for the young Belgian, unless Stockport surprise everyone with an audacious bid. That is a battle that United have to win. By choosing Red over Blue, Hazard would open the floodgates for other superstars to realise that City are not the only team in Manchester competing for the title.
With Man City tipped to dominate domestic football for the next few years, it would be easy for the club to relax and let their squad of superstars take care of the title. However, there are still many issues to iron out at the Etihad. Firstly, it would not be surprising if the ego’s and arrogance of their star players cause discrepancies in the camp. With most City players aware that they would be any other teams’ star man, sitting on the bench for half of the season will certainly not please them. We have already seen disruption from egocentric players this season. Carlos Tevez and his refusal to warm up at Bayern Munich was embarrassing for the player and the club. Mario Balotelli and his bizarre antics and bone breaking tackles have enraged both manager and supporters. Mancini has dealt with the aforementioned situations well but with the undoubted arrival of talented and rightfully arrogant players into the dressing room, it could only be a matter of time before fireworks ensue, and not just in Balotelli’s bathroom. City cannot afford to rest on their laurels. Even through a season of transition at Old Trafford, United still managed to finish on the same points as City. United were two minutes away from winning the title. If Sergio Aguero had not converted his chance against QPR, United would have been the ones parading the trophy around the Manchester. If City truly want to dominate, they cannot afford to wait until the final day of the season to snatch the title, as you can bet that Man United will not make the same mistakes again.
With the Red Devils being tipped to fade behind the Blue Moon, a changing of the guard at the top of the Premier League is a possibility. Is this really the start of a dynasty and the arrival of the worlds best at Eastlands? Or can United continue to dominate and realise that in this season of transition, they still managed to finish level on points with the champions?
Is this the end of United’s domination? Is this the start of a Dynasty at City? Where Will Eden Hazard end up? Comment on Twitter @mattpegg1