Manchester City’s stand-in captain, Kyle Walker, has downplayed comparisons between his team and Manchester United under Sir Alex Ferguson or Liverpool in the 1980s. The defender insists that despite their success, City still have a long way to go before they can be considered in the same breath as those iconic teams of the past.
City could make history by winning the Club World Cup final in Jeddah on Friday, becoming the first English side to ever win five major trophies in a calendar year. Despite their achievements in the Premier League, Champions League, and FA Cup last season, Walker believes they still have much to prove.
“I don’t think we’ll be looked at differently for a good couple of years,” Walker said in the run-up to Friday’s game. “To go and achieve what the likes of Liverpool and Manchester United did… they did it year in, year out for a number of years.”
He continued, “So to be considered the best club in the world is obviously a great achievement but the lads know that we’re just starting the building blocks for this club. Hopefully, we’re starting a new generation.”
City are in contention for a fourth successive Premier League title under manager Pep Guardiola and a sixth in seven years, but their 2023/24 campaign hasn’t been as smooth sailing as they would have hoped. They have dropped points in seven games this season and find themselves lying fourth in the table behind Arsenal, Liverpool, and surprise package Aston Villa.
Walker stressed that while City’s achievements are commendable, they still don’t match up to the legacy of Manchester United under Ferguson. “For me, and we’ve won five in six years, to be recognized as one of the top clubs in the world we have to do it for a little bit longer,” he said.
Manchester United have struggled to reclaim their former glory since Ferguson retired in 2012, going through a revolving door of managers in search of sustained success. In contrast, City have flourished under Guardiola, winning six titles, including a title under Manuel Pellegrini in 2013/14.
Now, as they aim for another historic triumph in the Club World Cup final, City’s stars are aware that they must continue to build on their recent accomplishments in order to match the sustained dominance of the legendary teams that came before them. Walker’s comments serve as a reminder of the high standards City have set for themselves and the lofty ambitions they continue to chase.
