Former Stoke City manager Tony Pulis has strongly voiced his frustration, admitting he feels “cheated” following reports regarding Manchester City’s financial charges verdict. Pulis was in the dugout when Stoke City reached their historic first-ever FA Cup final in 2011, ultimately losing 1-0 to Manchester City courtesy of a Yaya Touré goal. That victory marked the beginning of Manchester City’s modern era of domestic dominance.
While acknowledging the fans’ sentiments, Pulis in a chat with BBC, stated he does not realistically expect Manchester City to hand back medals or titles, anticipating that severe fines and points deductions are far more likely outcomes. “We lost, but to a team that have been found guilty of breaking the financial rules set out by the Premier League,” said Pulis in a column for the BBC.
“In doing so, they did not just beat Stoke in an FA Cup final; they collected a stack of titles and went on to completely dominate English football for more than a decade. So, with those rules having been broken, what will the punishment be?
“Well, I know all Stoke supporters will be demanding that City pass the trophy over and every club that has been affected by their actions will be considering their legal options. “I don’t seriously believe any other trophies and titles will be handed back over either. A points deduction and a massive fine feels far more likely. “But I still feel cheated.
Whatever happens next, we won’t ever get that day back and the chance to celebrate around Stoke-on-Trent with the cup and medals we so honestly fought for. After breaking the rules, Manchester City got to do that instead,” he concluded.