Man City’s coronation as Premier League champions on Sunday "will be shrouded in controversy," with FA Chair Greg Dyke declaring it “pretty depressing” that the side regularly features only two Englishmen and UEFA "about to improse severe penalties" on the club for Financial Fair Play violations, according to Herbert & Moore of the London INDEPENDENT. Dyke: “The Premiership has been brilliant, but I think there are probably two [regular] England players at City and two or three at Chelsea, although there won’t be that many next year. That’s pretty depressing” (INDEPENDENT, 5/10). In London, Jason Burt reported this was the first time Man City won two domestic trophies. However, Joe Hart is the only Englishman in City's strongest starting 11, as opposed to Liverpool with five. Dyke: "Liverpool have been exciting this year with four or five English players.'' Man City Manager Manuel Pellegrini, though, "has defended the club's recruitment." Pellegrini: "We have a very important squad and it's not easy to buy English players. If you want to buy a player from Liverpool, Tottenham or Arsenal or Chelsea, I don't know how much it would cost and I'm sure the teams will not sell. It's a high cost and we now have the rules of Financial Fair Play so it will be more difficult to pay more money for players and we need high quality" (TELEGRAPH, 5/11). REUTERS' Ian Ransom reported Dyke said Premier League club owners "were wondering why they would throw money into academies to develop home-grown talent when so few locals were breaking into first teams." Dyke: "What do they care about? A lot of them, because they're spending a lot of money on academy programs, are saying: 'But hang on, what am I getting back for this?'" (REUTERS, 5/10).
TITLE TOWN: In London, Henry Winter reported Man City fans held aloft a banner declaring “Oops we did it again” to celebrate their second title in three years. The fans "streamed onto the pitch at the end, celebrating with the players, taking selfies, pleading for souvenirs of shirts." Pellegrini talked of Man City’s “flair,” and of football being “an entertainment business” (TELEGRAPH, 5/11).
PARADE PLANNED: In Manchester, Jennifer Williams reported more than 100,000 "are expected to congregate in the city centre" for Man City's title parade on Monday. Beginning at 5pm local time, the Blues "will gather on-stage in Albert Square, which will be decked out with big screens as it was in 2012." Players "will then set off on their open-top victory bus down Mount Street, moving through the gathered crowds down Peter Street, Deansgate and Cateaton Street -- before ending up in Exchange Square." The three-hour procession, "which also celebrates the club’s Capital One Cup triumph back in March, will be followed by a squad trip to Abu Dhabi, so players can show off their new trophy in the club chairman’s native country" (MANCHESTER EVENING NEWS, 5/11).
