Manchester United chief executive David Gill is expecting rivals Manchester City to bounce back and respond strongly after failing to defend their Premier League title.
Owing to the never ending wealth of their owners, Manchester City have built a great team over the last few years and finally managed to win the Premier League on goal difference last year when Sergio Aguero scored a last minute goal against QPR. However, United ended City’s hopes of winning a second Premier League title on the trot. And Gill, who will step down from his position at Manchester United to push for a place in UEFA’s executive committee said:
Trending
“I’m sure they will come back. They’ve got some ambitious plans on their investment and their academy. But that’s what the excitement of the Premier League is.
“I’m sure all the clubs who missed out this season will be doing business in the summer – as we will be – with a view to come back all guns blazing next year.”
Gill also appreciated the efforts put in by United’s infamous owners, the Glazer family. Despite winning five Premier League titles and a Champions League since the Florida based owners took over in 2005, they are still criticised by a minority of United’s supporters. Gill added:
“They have shown that what happens on the pitch is crucial to the club’s ambitions off it.
“There are still a small number of dissenters and they will always be there and they have had long held views which they are not going to change. We respect those, but ultimately, someone has to own the club.
“They [Glazers] get the personal enjoyment and the important thing is that there is really no ego about them. They operate behind the scenes here, they don’t walk around saying ‘we own the club’, and they are very mindful of the traditions and the history of the club and people. Clearly, if you own an asset and it comes up with winning a 20th title, it’s unbelievable.”
