What If Manchester City Had Played Fair?

The recent verdict on Manchester City's alleged financial rule breaches has prompted speculation about how English football might have unfolded if the club had always adhered to regulations. In an alternate reality where City did not face these charges, the landscape of the Premier League and the careers of numerous managers and players could be drastically different.

One prominent hypothetical centers on Liverpool. In this scenario, Brendan Rodgers is lauded with a statue outside Anfield for leading Liverpool to a Premier League title, ending their 24-year drought. This success might mean Jurgen Klopp would never have been appointed manager, or perhaps he would have taken a different path, potentially managing Manchester United.

If City had played by the rules, their dominance would likely have been curtailed. This could have opened the door for other clubs to secure titles. Tony Pulis might have won the FA Cup with Stoke City in 2011, a final they lost to City in reality. Arsenal, managed by Mikel Arteta, might not have seen him develop under Pep Guardiola at City, potentially altering their own trajectory.

The ripples extend to other clubs. Leicester City, in this parallel universe, could have capitalized on their strong performances between 2019 and 2021, possibly establishing themselves as a consistent top-tier club rather than facing a subsequent decline. Their hypothetical Champions League qualification could have prevented the financial mismanagement that led to their real-life struggles.

The personal careers of star players are also subject to change. David Silva and John Stones might have joined Chelsea earlier. Kevin De Bruyne could have flourished under Guardiola at Manchester United, and Raheem Sterling might have enjoyed a different career arc at Liverpool under Rodgers.

Even the arrival of iconic figures like Sergio Aguero and the careers of figures like Harry Kane could have taken different turns. Tottenham Hotspur's potential signing of Aguero from Atletico Madrid, for instance, could have had unforeseen consequences for Kane's own development.

These alternate timelines highlight the profound and complex impact that a club's financial conduct can have, not just on silverware but on the very fabric of football history, affecting managers, players, and clubs across generations. The "what if" scenarios underscore the far-reaching repercussions of the charges leveled against Manchester City, suggesting that the true extent of the altered history may never be fully understood.