Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher has stated that Manchester City’s name has not been erased despite his successful call to repeal a two-year ban on UEFA competitions.
Pep Guardiola’s team will return to play in the Champions League next season after the decision, drawing criticism from people like José Mourinho and Jurgen Klopp.
Carragher has become the latest figure to hit City, pointing out his problems on the field and suggesting that the suspicion of foul play will not go away.
“They have still lost nine games this season, which simply tells you that money is not everything, nine teams have defeated them,” he told Sky Sports.
“Man City, with the money they have, has not won the Champions League, so they don’t really fully dominate.”
“Will it have any effect in the field? Will the suspicion that they have done something or get away with it go away? I don’t think so, as everyone has seen emails in the press in the last six to 12 months … and people have made up their minds.
“Yes, they went to court and won, but I don’t think that suspicion will ever go away, so I don’t think they’ve completely cleared their name in the eyes of people across the country.”
“If that helps the players, they don’t have to worry about missing out on the Champions League, so they can improve and they certainly need to improve for next season.”
Carragher, however, disagreed with Klopp’s view that the verdict was a “bad day for football.”
He said, “For me, it was more a good day than a bad day. I’ve never been a big believer in Financial Fair Play because I don’t want to see the same clubs year after year going through the league.
“I think the City that entered the last decade and took away Chelsea and Manchester United to be probably the dominant force of the last decade has been good for football. When Chelsea entered and broke Arsenal and United’s dominance, it was well and i have no problem with that at all.
“I hope Everton can invest more, Newcastle if the Saudi takeover occurs, more teams involved that have a genuine opportunity and hope to do things at the high end of the PL.”
“What are your fans supposed to do? Do they just wait for sixth place for the rest of their lives? Do they see a team that finishes tenth, eleventh and never win a trophy? Teams like Everton, who are a great club in this country, 25 years go by without a trophy?
“Manchester City spent more than 25 years without a trophy and I don’t like to see that, I prefer to see the trophies spread out. The only way that can happen is if the clubs get investment.”
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