There is no shortage of controversial statements in the football world, but recently a point of view has caused a stir among the entire fan community of Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain (PSG): “Manchester City will not be able to win the World Cup if they meet any team that PSG has eliminated in the knockout round.” It sounds absurd, because the World Cup is a playground for national teams, not clubs. However, behind this statement is a heavy sarcasm, questioning the true strength of Man City.
When PSG became a “measure”
PSG is often criticized as a “rich loser” in the Champions League, but it cannot be denied that for many seasons, the French team has defeated the big names of Europe. From Barcelona, Chelsea, to Bayern Munich – all have been victims in the knockout round. So when someone claims that Man City will not be able to overcome the teams that PSG have eliminated, it is like a slap in the pride of the fans of the blue half of Manchester.
Loss to Tottenham – living proof?
People use Man City’s loss to Tottenham Hotspur as proof. In the 2018/19 Champions League, Man City was bitterly eliminated in the quarter-finals by the away goals rule after a breathtaking score chase. Son Heung-min, the Korean star, at that time made Pep Guardiola’s defense worth hundreds of millions of pounds into a joke.
This makes critics argue that: If an unstable Tottenham can also defeat Man City, then facing teams that have been eliminated by PSG – which are much stronger – is no different from a death sentence.
Man City – a great team or just a “lucky king”?
The burning question here is: Is Man City’s 2023 Champions League title just a “late product” when they avoided the strongest opponents? During Pep Guardiola’s decade in charge, Man City repeatedly fell to Real Madrid, Lyon, Liverpool or Chelsea. Therefore, the view that they cannot survive against “PSG victims” is actually just another way to affirm that Man City often fails against big clubs when the pressure is heavy.
Where is the courage when facing fierce?
No one denies Guardiola’s talent and top-notch controlling style. But knockout football is not like a long-distance tournament. Just one small mistake, one moment of lapse of concentration, all the efforts of the whole season are considered to be down the drain. PSG have proven many times that they can defeat the big teams with moments of Neymar, Mbappé or Di María. Man City, on the contrary, are famous for their shameful “chokes”.
Conclusion
Saying that Man City cannot win the World Cup is ironic. But if we look back at the defeats against Tottenham, Lyon, or the incredible comeback of Real Madrid, we have to admit: Man City are often not good at facing the harsh pressure in the knockout round. And that is why this view, although unreasonable, still makes fans think.
Will Man City one day prove that they are not only the “king of the Premier League” but also the invincible team in Europe? Or will they forever be labeled as a team that only knows how to dominate domestically but easily falls when facing “those who have been through PSG”? The answer will lie in the coming seasons, but until then, the Tottenham stain remains as a warning.
