Gerard Wiekens voices concern over Manchester City’s future

Gerard Wiekens has admitted that he is worried about Manchester City’s future as the club awaits judgment over allegations concerning its finances. The former City player told VI that describing his old club as having comprehensively cheated would be too strong while the matter remains unresolved.

Wiekens acknowledged that clubs must follow financial rules. He said the FA alleges City declared inflated sponsorship revenue, enabling the club to spend more on players. However, he argued that City’s achievements were still delivered on the pitch rather than through the bribery of officials or opponents. He accepted that questions remain over whether the money was legitimate and said the judges must now decide.

The Dutchman also wondered what would remain of the current team if relegation were imposed. He highlighted Erling Haaland’s longstanding connection to City, having played alongside the striker’s father, Alf-Inge Haaland. Wiekens recalled seeing Erling around the club in City shirts as a child, but said he could not know whether the forward would stay following a possible demotion.

Whatever the outcome, Wiekens expects City’s support to endure. He told VI that the stadium was full even when he represented the club in the third tier, adding that a longstanding “us against the rest” mentality could strengthen the bond among supporters. He hopes the case ends without severe consequences, while acknowledging that modern football makes any genuine return to the City of his playing days unlikely.