A first-ever title in Europe's premier club competition would complete City's rise from Manchester's"second club" to England's top team, and experts believe that could be the missing element in creating a truly global brand.
When billionaire Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed al-Nahyan bought the club in 2008, there was no doubting that he had invested in the second club in the city.Manchester United were not just the most successful team in England, they were a global brand attracting fans from across the world. In Pep Guardiola, the club has a manager widely viewed as the most innovative and effective in the game, and they have a team packed with international talent, producing entertaining football.That is all more than enough for the club's supporters of course, who know they are now the top dogs in their city and in the country.
When it comes to the broader brand value, the calculations from Brand Finance place United third and City fourth - Spain's Real Madrid and Barcelona are in the top spots. "The peripheral fan who maybe only watches the Champions League latter stages is going to be exposed to Manchester City, it brings a greater exposure to that wider audience," says Hensley.
A Champions League triumph for City would come at a bad time for United, whose American owners, the Glazer family, are facing protests from some fan groups while the team are smarting from losing the Europa League final to Spain's Villarreal on Wednesday.
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