Man City – A Truly Great Feat by a Great Side?

So the £1.8 Billion pounds invested by the Shiek’s from Abu Dhabi has finally produce a Champions League Trophy and with it an enviable elusive treble, only previously achieved by their local United rivals.

PG has also possibly achieved truly great status by winning three CL Trophies now with two clubs.

I was quite pleased in some respects that MC finally laid to rest the gloating of their rival fans who had also won the treble, albeit 24 years ago, back in 1999. The fact that it has only been done twice and nearly a quarter of a century between successes, really does show how difficult an accomplishment it truly is.

I remember being a lad of fifteen when Arsenal achieved their first double, again a great fete back in the day, and something rarely done. It was then only the fourth time in 81 years, but this has now been eclipsed and a total of 9 further doubles have been completed in the following 52 years. But other than PNE and AV who achieved their doubles in the late 1800’s, the top six are the only clubs to do the double:- MC (2), C (1), A (3), MU (3), L (1), TH (1).

I guess that this is a reflection on modern times, and the adage money maketh money, and proves that it is unlikely that a double, let alone a treble, will be undertaken by a team other than one of the Big Six.

A Treble though is a very difficult feat to achieve, there have in my opinion, been some really good sides in the last fifty years that have come up short when being backed by the pundits. The thing is you need to have a good team/squad but also a little slice of luck on your side, and lady luck has a habit of letting you down just when you need it.

When MU achieved their treble, I thought BM had done enough, but it ain’t over until it’s over, and MU had a bit of luck on the night and achieved an unprecedented triumph. MC I felt on the night of their recent CL triumph were also not at their best, and I was wondering what the pundits had been waxing so lyrical about, because IM held them for most of the game, but 1-0 is all it takes, and with A having faltered in the PL, it allowed MC to be held up as a truly great side, winning an elusive treble, but I am not so sure.

However, am I just being over critical and picky, a treble, as I have pointed out, is such a truly great feat, especially when to achieve it you have to win both, arguably the best league in the world, and undoubtably the best cup competition in the FA Cup, plus the Champions League with the best European teams.

So hats off to MC, as I am not sure if they will accomplish another treble any time soon, it is when all said and done a tough ask…… but I guess with another couple of billion pounds  of oil money in the bank, they are best placed in England to repeat the very difficult achievement.