Kyle Walker surprisingly claimed that Manchester City are still in Manchester United‘s shadow – even if they become champions of the world on Friday.
Pep Guardiola‘s side are bidding to make history by beating Fluminense in the Club World Cup final, held in Jeddah.
Victory would cement them as the first English team to ever win the top five major trophies in a calendar year, on the back of lifting three consecutive Premier League titles.
But Walker – City’s captain in Kevin De Bruyne‘s absence – doesn’t believe ticking the final trophy off will edge them ahead of the dynasty built by Sir Alex Ferguson across town.
‘I don’t think we’ll be looked at differently for a good couple of years,’ the 33-year-old said.
To go and achieve what the likes of Liverpool and Manchester United did… they did it year in, year out for a number of years.
‘So to be considered the best club in the world is obviously a great achievement but the lads know that we’re just starting the building blocks for this club. Hopefully we’re starting a new generation.’
Asked why City couldn’t lay claim to being the best in modern history following the dominance under Guardiola, Walker added: ‘To go and do it like your Manchester Uniteds with your Ryan Giggs’ that have won 13 league titles.
‘We take great pride in what we’ve done but for me, and we’ve won five in six years, to be recognised as one of the top clubs in the world we have to do it for a little bit longer.’
City have won the domestic crown in seven of the last 12 seasons but have a fight on to create more history by clinching a fourth title in a row.
The defending champions could be 10 points behind the leaders when they return from Saudi Arabia after indifferent results, a run of form that has been blighting by conceding late goals. They face in-form Everton on Wednesday.
Walker, who admitted that City are ‘lucky’ not to be further behind, has taken criticism by supporters personally. His family send him social media posts from disgruntled fans.
