And they will be reminded of that tonight when they travel to Old Trafford and take on the champions-elect.
Lining up against them will be the one who got away United’s Robin van Persie who has proved to be one of the big differences between the two neighbours in this campaign.
Meanwhile some of those City did sign, Jack Rodwell, Scott Sinclair and Maicon will be nowhere
near the starting line-up again.
I feared from my own personal experience that Roberto Mancini and his title-winners had missed a trick when the transfer window shut last August. When you are in a position of strength, you have to make the most of it.
That was their big chance to bring in a couple more of the world’s best players to really raise the bar. But, sadly for them, they did not take it.
To me, it brings back memories of when I won the title with Blackburn back in 1994/5.
We were the English champions and were linked with names like Zidane and Dugarry and while no-one expected them to walk through the door at Ewood, it did not do us any harm.
Yet Ray Harford took over from Kenny Dalglish and wanted to give the players who had won it the chance to do it again. Sadly it proved to be the wrong call as we didn’t move forward as a team and ended up finishing seventh.
The history books show Rovers never came close to winning it again. City will not finish that far down the table and you could argue coming second and possibly winning the FA Cup would represent a decent season considering where they have come from over the last five years.
Another trophy should be good enough to keep Mancini in his job.
But the fact that they are 15 points behind and had that hugely disappointing Champions League campaign makes it hard to be too enthusiastic about their campaign.
Certainly they will have to spend big again to close the gap on United once more.
This time last year, it was almost a winner-takes-all clash at the Etihad but this time there is only pride at stake for City.
The fact the title race was so close last year with City winning it on goal difference should have been a warning there was little to choose between the two teams.
Surely they did not expect United to stand still that’s not what has made them such a force over the last 20 years.And, sure enough, Fergie went out and made a real statement by buying Van Persie. City did not buy anyone to make people sit up and take notice.
Mancini seems to determined to blame Brian Marwood, the players anyone but himself.
Yet he must shoulder some of the responsibility as his grumbling does not give the impression of a happy and stable club.
Down the road it has been typical Manchester United and typical Fergie.
I can just imagine how that last day would have hurt him. I’m sure he sat his squad down and told them it will never happen again.
Yes, they have not been brilliant but they have been relentless.
Their points tally is amazing and even if City had strengthened, it would have been a tall order to keep pace with them.So, all in all, plenty for City to ponder as they prepare to hand back the trophy in the next few weeks.
Credits: The Sun
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