Manchester United boss Michael Carrick still has his “own questions” over the Manchester City case which he says “affected me personally”.
There is a clamour among some for Manchester City to be stripped of their silverware and also be relegated after they were found guilty of multiple Premier League financial rule breaches.
The 45-year-old was on the pitch at Sunderland when he learned City had won their first Premier League title in 2012 thanks to Sergio Aguero’s legendary injury time match winner.
He was still part of Jose Mourinho’s squad when United finished runners-up to Pep Guardiola’s City side in 2018 and was part of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s coaching staff when it happened again in 2020-21.
However, Carrick says getting a title winners’ medal years after the event would not make up for missing out at the time.
“In football, the strive to win, the emotion and the feeling about winning, a lot of it is in the moment,” he said.
“You can’t take that back. It’s the moment you strive for. That’s essentially what we’re all in it for. That’s the feeling we all crave.
“The beauty of trying to win trophies is a little bit the journey towards it and then the finale. Does it go for you, does it go against you? Once that’s done, there’s no getting that back in any direction.
“I’m not getting blasé about it, but regardless of anything, in any sport in history, if later on you get the medal, it doesn’t bring the feeling of when you initially win or you don’t.”
An independent commission found City guilty of all charges relating to breaches of the Premier League’s financial regulations between the 2009-10 and 2017-18 seasons.
Manchester City have appealed against the decision. City boss Enzo Maresca has said he “trusts” his own club.
If the appeal adheres to strict Premier League guidelines, it should be concluded by Christmas Day, with a verdict to follow in the early part of 2027.
Carrick does not know how the situation will play out. However, as a very close bystander to the event, he feels there has to be a speedy resolution.
“It’s thrown up a lot of questions,” he said. “Some had answers, some haven’t.
“Certainly, I’ve got my own questions about it. It’s affected me personally in different ways over a period of time.
“As it’s still not finalised, I think I’ll hold that one (whether titles should be reassigned) until later on.
“What I will say is that the sooner it gets sorted, for everyone’s benefit, is essential.
“It’s unprecedented, a unique situation to be in at this level, with such a huge impact in so many ways. We all need to know what’s going to happen.”
Meanwhile, United’s fans have delivered their own verdict by getting a ‘ticker’ banner showing the years since Manchester City last won a trophy rehung from the Stretford End.
The banner was initially displayed in 2000, at which point it was 24 years since City’s last silverware – the 1976 League Cup.
It was increased by one each year until 2011 when City finally ended their trophy drought by beating Stoke City in the FA Cup final.
However, fans have a new version to display for this weekend’s visit of Tottenham to Old Trafford, with the number 50 – signalling the years since their 1976 League Cup triumph, their final silverware before Sheikh Mansour bought the club.