Paranoia not pretty, City

I’M a bit confused about the government’s proposed clampdown on the use of plastic items. Of course, they’re right to ban plastic straws, plastic drink stirrers and plastic cotton buds in England from April 2020. But if they really want to improve our environment, surely banning football clubs from handing out plastic flags is far more vital.

TWO images soured the aftermath of Manchester City clinching their unique Treble at Wembley.

The fan who burst into the press box to castigate journalists in advance for their editors putting Mo Salah on Sunday’s back pages not City (which they didn’t). And Pep Guardiola’s snarl when asked about UEFA’s FFP inquiry.

It’s the culmination of a growing paranoia at City (Guardiola spent his pre-FA Cup final press conference questioning why one newspaper website elevated a story about Paul Pogba above City’s title win) that they’re not getting full credit for the quality of their football.

Yet, virtually every journalist and pundit I can think of pointed out at least once last season, that they are possibly the greatest football side modern English football has seen.

I hope they lose this paranoia quickly, because it doesn’t feel like the much-admired City mentality of the past 40 years.

They were always the self-effacing ones who felt it was all about to go wrong. Even their new-found wealth was met with a shrug and the view it was about time they had some luck after all those years of pain.

Enjoy your success and sod those who begrudge you it.

But don’t get paranoid. It’s not a good look.