Ricky Hatton believes Manchester United fans should ‘stop sulking’ after Tuesday’s defeat to Olympiakos added yet another catastrophic chapter to an already disastrous season.
United normally synonymous with success look set to finish the season empty handed, barring a remarkable turnaround against the Greek side.
Meanwhile Hatton’s beloved Manchester City will look to complete the first part of a domestic treble on Sunday against Sunderland in the Capital One Cup final.
However, the former World Welterweight Champion believes United supporters have been spoilt with success over the years and that they should accept their more mediocre situation this season without fuss.
“I know they (United) aren’t having a very good season this year,” Hatton told MM. “But when you look at what they have been used to over the years in comparison to what City fans have had to put up with, maybe they should stop sulking.
“We (City) have been used to United having all the success and not only playing the best in Europe, but beating them as well, with us really having nothing to cheer about.
“So it is nice that the tables have been turned at last.”
‘The Hitman’ is confident ahead of the Blues clash with Sunderland at the weekend, but cited last season’s shock FA Cup final defeat to Wigan Athletic as a reason to err on the side of caution.
If the Citzens do lift the Capital One Cup under the arch on Sunday, Hatton sees no reason why the FA Cup and Premier League cannot follow for Manuel Pellegrini’s side this season.
“We should beat Sunderland but we cannot treat it as a foregone conclusion because we should’ve beaten Wigan last season and didn’t,” said Hatton. “But I do think we will beat Sunderland.
“In the FA Cup, hopefully we will beat Wigan this time and we would have to be one of the stand out favourites for that. We are also the front runners for the Premier League as well.
“I don’t think the treble is an impossibility for City this season.”
A tie which does look impossible though is City’s trip to the Nou Camp where they will attempt to overcome a two goal deficit against Barcelona in the Champions League and Hatton admitted the Blues face an uphill battle.
“The first leg was hard lines really, we were right in the game until the sending off,” he said. “If we could’ve gone in to the second leg only 1-0 down then that would have given us a real chance.
“Now it’s going to be very, very difficult, but if we can get an early goal who knows what could happen?
“But for City even to be playing against the likes of Barcelona, it’s the stuff of dreams.”
Image courtesy of Manchester City FC via YouTube, with thanks.
