Five reasons Jose Mourinho is wrong on Manchester City

So what defines a historic club? Trophies? Club heroes? A recognisable worldwide name?

Here is a look at five important pieces of silverware won by Manchester City through the years, which counter Mourinho's claim and prove that City have a very proud history to shout about.

1) FA Cup winners 1904

When Manchester City won the FA Cup in 1904 they became the first Manchester club to do so. City beat Bolton 1-0, even if the winner was claimed to have a hint of offside. The goal was scored by legendary Billy Meredith, who would later go on to spend 15 seasons at rivals United, before returning back to City late on in his career. More than 60,000 watched the final from the stands at Crystal Palace, at likely more than that number lined the streets of Manchester when the players and staff returned for their victory parade.

2) FA Cup winners 1934 

The 30s were a glorious time for City, and there were no pots of money preceding their success. They may have lost the 1933 FA Cup Final 3-0 to Everton, but bounced back the following year to defeat Portsmouth 2-1 in the final. En route to the final, a record 84,000 fans crammed into Maine Road to watch them beat Stoke 1-0. Manchester City goalkeeper Frank Swift, later killed in the Munich air disaster, was hailed as a hero for his goalkeeping display at Wembley which helped City edge a 2-1 win and lift their second FA Cup. Fred Tilson was the goalscorer, netting twice including the winner with just two minutes remaining.

3) League champions 1937

City continued their success by lifting the league title for the first time in their history just three years later. City scored 107 goals on the way to their title win, finishing three points clear of second place Charlton under the management of Wilf Wild. To top off their happiness and perfect season, rivals Manchester United were relegated.

4) League champions 1968

1968 was a glorious year for Manchester clubs, while United defeated Benfica to lift the European Cup for the first time, they could not defend their league title, and it was Manchester City who pipped them to the post. City had only been promoted from the second division two years earlier, and it topped a remarkable rise for them. It all came down the final day (sound familiar?) with City needing to beat Newcastle. Mike Summerbee, Neil Young (2), and Francis Lee scored the historic goals to seal City's first title in 31 years.

5) European Cup Winners Cup winners 1970

City had followed up their title triumph with an FA Cup win, beating Leicester in the final in 1969, and began another European adventure the following year. The European Cup wasn't so good to them in 1968-69, beaten in the first round by Fenerbahce, but they made up for it by lifting silverware a season later. After beating Schalke in the Cup Winners Cup semi-finals, they faced Poles Gornik Gabrze. Neil Young and Francis Lee via the penalty spot sent City to a 2-1 win and their fourth major trophy in three seasons, having won the League Cup months earlier. 

image: © Gene Hunt