Manchester City's breaches of Premier League financial rules have done irreparable damage to football, according to former Manchester United midfielder Ander Herrera. City were reportedly found guilty in September of 114 of the 115 charges brought against them and are still awaiting sanctions. Speaking on Mario Suarez's podcast, the Real Zaragoza midfielder, who spent 2014 to 2019 at Old Trafford, said the situation had ridden roughshod over the principles of fair play. "What happened back then was not normal, and everyone could see it. Rules must be followed. They don't have a huge fanbase... yet they spend money as if they do..." Herrera said. "I have nothing against the players and coaches... But if I were a player, I would be angry with those in power because they tainted everything that was accomplished over the years," he added.
According to Herrera, artificially inflated budgets hurt clubs such as Tottenham Hotspur, who finished fifth for years and lost out on huge Champions League revenue. He placed particular value on the second-place finish Jose Mourinho achieved with Manchester United in 2017-18. Mourinho had seen it coming. Like The Simpsons, Herrera said, the Portuguese coach could predict events before they happened, and knew even then about the wrongdoing going on behind the scenes.
