Ander Herrera has made his opinion very clear on Manchester City's recent guilty verdict, claiming that the Citizens do not deserve the Premier League titles they have won. The former Red Devils midfielder, guest of the "Rio Ferdinand Presents" podcast, declared that, although he is not certain that Manchester United deserve to see the trophies reallocated, it is indisputable that City were not entitled to win them. “If I were a Manchester City player, I would be furious with my ownership,” he added, highlighting the frustration a player might feel when faced with such a controversial decision.
The statement comes just after an independent commission found that Manchester City had breached financial fair play rules for almost ten years. The club contested the sentence, appealing and continuing to maintain its innocence. Herrera, who spent five seasons at Old Trafford, recalled the four trophies he won with the Red Devils and the Player of the Year award he achieved in his third year in England, to highlight the difference between sporting merit and administrative matters.
During his interview, Herrera stressed that his position is not motivated by personal rivalry, but rather by a desire to maintain the integrity of English football. He expressed his belief that the awards won by Manchester City had been obtained in a questionable manner, and that their removal would be the right response to the breach of the rules. At the same time, he remained cautious when speaking about Manchester United, highlighting that it is not certain that the club deserves to see the trophies awarded to City returned.
The Manchester City case has already had repercussions on the English football scene, with other teams asking for clarification on financial fair play rules. As for the future, the club has stated that it will continue to fight for its legal position, while Manchester United remains awaiting any decisions that may affect their ranking. Herrera concluded the interview by inviting all fans to maintain respect for the game and not to forget the importance of clean and transparent football.