Dickov confident the future's blue
Man City legend reflects on club's transformation and predicts more history for Guardiola's men
Former Manchester City player Paul Dickov, now a club ambassador, poses with the FA Cup, English Premier League, Champions League and UEFA Super Cup trophies during the club's recent Treble Trophy Tour of China. Provided to China Daily
"I would get nowhere near this team!" Paul Dickov gleefully admits when asked if wishes he had plied his trade for Manchester City during the Pep Guardiola era. "I would be alright with Pep's pressing, but just don't give me the ball!"
While he never quite managed Erling Haaland's strike rate, Dickov remains a bona-fide cult hero with the City faithful, mostly thanks to a last-gasp goal in a Wembley playoff that helped the club gain promotion from England's third tier in 1999.
How times have changed. Fast-forward to 2023, and Dickov is a Man City ambassador, fronting a just-concluded Treble Trophy Tour around China, and the Abu Dhabi-owned club is more concerned with building dynasties than beating the drop. And while City has gone through a whirlwind transformation from perennial underachiever to reigning European champion, Dickov stresses the club has never forgotten its roots.
"It's in a different stratosphere now, but I have arguments with people all the time about this. The owners have done a fantastic job and they really do make a conscious effort to keep the history there," Dickov told China Daily last weekend at the end of a two-week-long trophy tour that visited fans in Hong Kong, Shanghai, Hangzhou, Zhengzhou, Tianjin and Beijing.
"There are still so many people who worked at (City's old stadium) Maine Road in 1996 that are still there. People like Danny Wilson who worked in the ticket office, who is now more or less on the board. Clare Marsden is still player liaison officer. Club legends like Mike Summerbee and Joe Corrigan. They have made sure to keep the heart and soul of the club intact and that connection with the fans is still there."
Related articles
Tiger Woods to feature at PGA Championship along with 16 LIV golfers
Tiger Woods has officially been locked in to play at the PGA Championship, as six LIV Golf rebels we2024-05-09REVEALED: The full list of celebrities who have admitted to taking Ozempic
Ozempic, the miracle weight loss injection, has taken the world by storm, enabling its users to supp2024-05-09Former Las Vegas casino executive to be sentenced in bookmaking money laundering case
LOS ANGELES (AP) — A former top executive for major Las Vegas casinos was set to appear before a fed2024-05-09Malaysian soccer player splashed with acid, two others attacked in a week of rare violence
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — A Malaysian international footballer has been splashed by acid and two2024-05-09Former Daytona 500 winner McDowell will leave Front Row Motorsports for Spire in 2025
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Shortly after Michael McDowell said Wednesday he would not return to Front Ro2024-05-09Andy Murray to return from ankle injury at Geneva Open this month
GENEVA (AP) — Three-time Grand Slam champion Andy Murray is set to return from his ankle injury at t2024-05-09
atest comment