Manchester United is one of the most successful clubs in the world. They have won many trophies over the years, and their fans are some of the most loyal in all of sports. However, not everyone agrees with this sentiment. In fact, there are many City supporters who detest their derby rivals. People love to bet on Manchester City vs. Manchester United games. And while this rivalry is often played out on the field, there are some underlying factors that fuel the fire of hatred between these two clubs.
1. Old Trafford
City supporters have long-held grievances with Old Trafford due to its atmosphere being much more intimidating than that of the Etihad Stadium. This has been compounded by the fact that there are penalty controversies that seem to favour United far too often. To add insult to injury, the stadium is often referred to as ‘The Theatre of Dreams,’ an epithet many City fans find far too smug.
2. ‘Fergie Time’
Sir Alex Ferguson was one of the most successful managers in Premier League history. Unfortunately, his reign at Old Trafford saw Manchester United win regularly while City was often left trailing in their wake.
The concept of ‘Fergie Time‘ is something that City fans loathe. This term refers to the unofficial additional minutes of stoppage time added in games where Manchester United lost or drew, usually with a last-minute goal levelling things up. Such outcomes have happened far too often for City’s liking, and they believe it has been used to snatch results away from them.
For many blue fans, it is an all-too-painful reminder of the power and influence of Manchester United.
3. Rivalries Never Die
The Manchester Derby has been one of the fiercest rivalries in English football for many years now, and City supporters simply can’t stand to see United come out on top. This is particularly true when a victory could mean the difference between winning and losing a trophy, as was seen in the 2018/19 season.
4. Unfair Media Coverage
It’s not just on-field matters that have riled City fans over the years – they’ve also had to contend with what they consider to be unfair media coverage. United seems to always get preferential treatment from much of the press, while City is often portrayed as villains no matter what they do.
5. The Red Army
Most football rivalries are fuelled by an element of hatred between both sets of fans, and this is especially true for the Manchester derby. This boils down to United fans perceiving City supporters as ‘glory hunters’ and the Blue camp often returning the sentiment.
While many are still able to keep things civil when they meet up for derby matches, there have been some ugly incidents in the past that have soured relations between both camps. The United’s Red Army flag has become a symbol of this animosity, with many City fans viewing it as an arrogant display of superiority.
6. Financial Support
City’s recent successes can also be attributed in part to their owners pumping huge amounts of money into the club since they took over in 2008. While this has been a great thing for the club, it’s also become a source of ire to some United supporters who accuse City of ‘buying success’.
7. Derby Day Atmosphere
The atmosphere on derby day is often always electrifying, with both sets of fans eager to out-do one another vocally. Unfortunately for City fans, this often ends up being dominated by United’s support due to their larger fanbase and more impressive record of success.
8. Fewer League Titles
Man United have won a record 20 league titles, whereas Manchester City has only won 8 in its entire history. Even though most of these were in recent times, the fact remains that United have twice as many trophies in their cabinet. This is something that City fans are all too aware of, and it often serves as a reminder of how far they still have to go to catch up with their rivals.
Final Thoughts
All in all, there are countless reasons why so many Manchester City fans simply cannot stand Manchester United. Whether it’s because of their success on the pitch or their attitude off it, this rivalry runs deep and is sure to continue for years to come. Whatever your opinion, though, one thing is certain – no other football rivalry is quite like this one!
