Soccer-Man City's iron grip shows no sign of weakening

soccer-man city's iron grip shows no sign of weakening

FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - Premier League - Manchester City v West Ham United - Etihad Stadium, Manchester, Britain - May 19, 2024 Manchester City's Kyle Walker lifts the trophy on the podium and celebrates with teammates after winning the Premier League Action Images via Reuters/Lee Smith

By Martyn Herman

LONDON (Reuters) - Manchester City's assault on the record books continues this weekend in the FA Cup final and their stranglehold over English soccer shows no sign of weakening any time soon.

Victory over Manchester United, whose one-time dominance is now a fading memory, will see City become the first club to win the English title and FA Cup in successive seasons.

That would come a week after they sealed an unprecedented fourth Premier League title in a row and a year after Pep Guardiola's side matched United's 1999 treble by also winning the Champions League for the first time.

If they beat United, and few expect any other outcome, it would be the 21st major trophy City have won since Abu Dhabi's Sheikh Mansour acquired the club in 2008.

Arsenal pushed them close this season but there was an inevitability that City would claim their sixth title in eight seasons under Spanish mastermind Guardiola.

Usurping City requires perfection, as Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta and outgoing Liverpool boss Juergen Klopp know only too and City's modus operandi means the challenge is huge.

The statistics do not lie.

In the last four seasons, City have amassed an average of 89.75 points in the Premier League. Of the clubs most likely to threaten their monopoly, Liverpool average 77.5, Arsenal 75.7, Manchester United 66.7. Tottenham Hotspur 64.75 and Chelsea 62.

Since 2015 City have exceeded their expected points total based on player wage bills by 15 points -- double the next best club which is Brighton & Hove Albion -- according to the FT.

What is more, City's net spend on players in the last five years is 379 million euros, according to transfermarkt.co.uk, compared to Chelsea's 800 million, Manchester United's 694 million, Arsenal's 638 million and Tottenham's 537 million.

RESTRICTED LANDSCAPE

Dan Plumley, a soccer finance expert at Sheffield Hallam University, said everyone was trying to play catch-up in an increasingly restricted financial landscape.

"City don't have to spend big but they will probably add two or three players every single year," he told Reuters.

"People talk about the gap between the big six, or seven if you include Newcastle United, and the rest of the league, but there is now also a gap between City and some of those clubs."

The Premier League's Financial and Sustainability rules snagged the likes of Everton and Nottingham Forest this season as they attempted to compete with the big hitters.

Those rules, criticised for stretching the gap between the top clubs and the rest, will likely be replaced by a UEFA-style spending cap from 2025-26.

"They are saying to clubs you can only invest to a degree, and then it's whether that investment is enough to catch City and I don't believe it would be based on the numbers, it could be anti-competitive to some," Plumley said.

While City look unshakable, there are clouds looming.

Guardiola hinted after last weekend's title-clincher that next season could potentially be his last. City also have to deal with 115 Premier League charges for alleged financial irregularity dating back to 2009, which they strongly deny.

Some suggest that a huge points deduction, if they are found guilty, could re-set the balance of power.

"It could alter the dynamic in the short term but does that alter it in the long term?" Plumley said. "There will be a time when things shift big at City anyway, regardless of what may or may not happen with the charges.

"Overwhelmingly that club is well set as an organisation and infrastructure wise to keep delivering on-pitch returns."

City's domination has raised questions about the Premier League being the most competitive in the world, but Plumley cited Aston Villa's rise and Chelsea's struggles as examples of compelling storylines that will continue to make it hugely successful.

"In theory if you lose a competitive balance in your ecosystem the product should decline and be less attractive to broadcasters," Plumley said.

"But we haven't seen that and broadcasting fees have gone up, not down, so the Premier League probably don't think they've got a problem to solve."

(Reporting by Martyn Herman, editing by Ed Osmond)

OTHER NEWS

12 minutes ago

Where has Patriots QB Drake Maye made strides this spring?

12 minutes ago

'We would get in the room and negotiate'

12 minutes ago

As Cowboys Keep Goofing Up Dak Prescott Contract, A Jayden Daniels Lesson for Commanders?

12 minutes ago

Neil Jordan recalls backlash over casting Tom Cruise in 'Interview With the Vampire'

12 minutes ago

T20 World Cup Super 8 groups, full fixture: Which teams will India face? England clubbed with? All you need to know

12 minutes ago

Tampa Trouble: 'Don't Be That Guy!' Warns Bucs Coach Todd Bowles

12 minutes ago

MLB Roundup: Orioles beat Phillies behind Santander’s four RBIs

12 minutes ago

‘The time is right’ for US to catch up on high-speed rail, says British Amtrak exec

12 minutes ago

Engineers Just Uncovered A Critical Discovery About Supercapacitors

12 minutes ago

Dodgers’ Yoshinobu Yamamoto leaves start vs. Royals due to triceps tightness

14 minutes ago

Is Austria vs France on TV? Channel, start time and how to watch Euro 2024 fixture online tomorrow

17 minutes ago

Kate Middleton Goes Behind Camera For Family Pic And Message Of Love To Mark Father’s Day In UK

17 minutes ago

Nick Jonas & Adrienne Warren To Star In First-Ever Broadway Staging Of ‘The Last Five Years’ Musical

18 minutes ago

Tim Collins to meet with Troubles victims’ group over legacy remarks

18 minutes ago

Sweden frees former Iranian official jailed for war crimes in prisoner swap

18 minutes ago

Patriots Jerod Mayo Reflects on ‘Lessons Learned’ During Offseason Workouts

18 minutes ago

Israel to Pause Fighting Along Southern Route in Gaza to Ease Aid Blockage

18 minutes ago

Giovanni Pernice is seen for the FIRST time since Strictly Come Dancing axe as under-fire star smokes a cigarette before launching his UK tour amid ongoing BBC probe

21 minutes ago

Giants soar to fifth with scrappy win over Power

21 minutes ago

Bryson DeChambeau Responds To 'Salty Balls' Question In Funny (And Insightful) US Open Press Conference Exchange

21 minutes ago

The Overlooked (But Real) Possibility of a Big Democratic Win

21 minutes ago

Bafana star to sign new Sundowns deal?

21 minutes ago

Internet Could Be Worsening Our Fear of Small Holes, Psychologists Say

21 minutes ago

Steelers All 90: Logan Lee Joins ‘Gritty’ Big Ten Infested Defensive Line

21 minutes ago

Tradies left $1m out of pocket after building firm collapse

21 minutes ago

Sherrone Moore Sees His Predictions Realized as Sean McVay Delivers Highest Praise on Former Michigan RB Blake Corum

23 minutes ago

FDA took months to react to complaint about Abbott infant formula factory, audit finds

23 minutes ago

Stores are more subdued in observing Pride Month. Some LGBTQ+ people see a silver lining in that

23 minutes ago

German police shot a man allegedly threatening them with an ax in a city hosting Euro 2024 match

23 minutes ago

Star Wars: What Is The Code Of The Sith & What Does It Really Mean?

24 minutes ago

Aussie Matt Burton claims emotional Cairns Ironman win

24 minutes ago

Esteban Ocon could leave F1 with ‘you never know’ admission over sideline spell

24 minutes ago

Leo Varadkar: Apologies could begin to ‘change hearts and minds’ over unity

24 minutes ago

Springbok reality hit home for Sharks star Aphelele Fassi

24 minutes ago

Mason Greenwood: LaLiga giants bid to make Man Utd winger fourth-most expensive signing in club history

24 minutes ago

Review: 'Umro Ayyar: A New Beginning' is a good introduction to Pakistan's first superhero

24 minutes ago

National Assembly sitting proceeds despite warnings over legality

24 minutes ago

Going camping off the grid is getting harder. But admit it: You don’t mind.

25 minutes ago

ADC’s exclusive investor event in Abu Dhabi to showcase high-growth investment opportunities in Jordan’s Aqaba

25 minutes ago

Fallen black professionals feel betrayed by ANC