At some point in the next five years, there is every reason to believe that the above statement is going to come true.
Just as the sheer billions of available stars mean life on other planets is surely out there, the sheer billions of available megabucks mean sooner or later City fans will hit the interstellar heights of table topping supremacy.
The routine win this weekend for bitter rivals United over Fulham looks to seal the fact that the Premier League trophy will be presented in Manchester this May, but not yet to the Sky Blues. I have blogged before about the fact that this United team are not anywhere near the calibre of some previous Ferguson vintages...the Cantona team, the Treble winners, and the Rooney/Ronaldo team were all far, far stronger than this year; yet they have fought to get themselves into a position of such supremacy that it seems unlikely that anyone will be toppling them.
Fair play to United, maybe I have been too tough on them - it was pointed out to me recently by a learned friend that they have (when available) the best defence in the division, and an attack in Rooney, Berbatov and Hernandez that would be the envy of many sides. A good point, and vindicated by the position they find themselves in...but I can't shake off the feeling that they just have not been that good.
Which brings us back to City. As I say, I have full confidence in stating that they will win the Premier League in the next 5 years. The resources available to them, and the simple fact that the owners will have no qualms in throwing money at the problem until it's resolved, mean that success is surely inevitable.
The key for me though lies in Mancini modifying his approach...as he may be starting to do following the resounding recent win over Sunderland. I firmly believe that, when you have the quality of players as City do, a gung-ho all-out attacking approach will pay off more than it doesn't. Granted, it would be a suicidal thing to do against United, Chelsea, Arsenal, maybe even Spurs...but against the remaining 80% of the league it has to be the right way. Mancini could send out his team all guns blazing and find them 3-0 up within 30 mins. Bring off an attacker, throw on another world class holding midfielder, shut up shop. Job done.
It will be interesting to see which approach he faces tonight. Away at Anfield, no easy task even in one of Liverpool's grotty seasons...but surely a winnable game with the right approach. Mancini should go for it, for the remainder of the season send out an attacking team not only to ensure the next step of Champions League qualification is achieved, but perhaps even more so to send out a statement of intent. To the fans, to the rest of the league, and to his bosses.
A team to whom money is no object should, given the right approach and the right application, become successful. One day, soon, maybe they will. Tonight they could make a start on that...and perhaps go even further with the titanic semi final looming against United. For now though, they remain the underdogs in that town.
I wonder, for how long?
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