SOUNESS SAYS CITY WILL REMAIN STRONG DESPITE WOES
GRAEME Souness is holding fire on Manchester City’s UEFA woes until the appeal process runs its course but whatever the outcome, the former Liverpool captain is adamant City will remain a football power-house. While many observers have put the boot into City after their Champions League expulsion and €30m fine, Souness is holding fire. Also, he’s not entirely easy that UEFA were both judge and jury. ‘I don’t think anybody could be comfortable with the organisation that brings the charge handing out the sentence. There has to be some sort of independence,’ said the Virgin Media analyst. ‘I think we could be talking about this for a very long time. I’m going to wait until I see all the evidence (that) is produced and then make a comment.’ Whether the ban is upheld and City are bombed out of the Champions League for the next two seasons or not, Souness senses they will stay strong under Pep Guardiola. ‘Pep won’t be going anywhere and nor will the big players. City will still be a big club, whatever the outcome of this.’ At the moment, the tag of biggest club is attached to Liverpool and Souness believes there is more success to come under Jurgen Klopp. ‘Liverpool are like a Rolls Royce with nothing going wrong with it, it needs a wash occasionally and a top-up of oil. ‘When you factor in James Milner is 34, the rest of the group are a fantastic age. Without doing too much to that squad, just tinkering with it, adding the occasional one, there are four or five years in that squad already. ‘Manchester United and the rest of them are buying players now and they have to come in and be an instant hit all of a sudden. You don’t buy for a quick-fix. ‘Right now it’s only City that I see challenging Liverpool. Chelsea are a bit off, Arsenal are a good bit off, United a good bit off it, Tottenham too.’ Souness is unsure about the relevance of an unbeaten season for Liverpool. ‘I don’t know how he (Klopp) sees it. I know how I would see it and how managers I’ve worked for would see it, and that it’s not that important. It’s about winning the trophy, get that in the bag. ‘It would be nice to go undefeated, but it’s all about preparing for the Champions League after that.’