Former Nottingham Forest striker Stan Collymore has claimed Manchester City can’t be seen as a great side until they’ve won Europe’s top prize like his old club.
Collymore, who recently celebrated his 50th birthday, scored 41 goals in 65 league games for Forest and made the statement on his Twitter account.
The comments came following a discussion about whether Manchester City have done enough to be seen as an all time great side, taking into account their outstanding domestic achievements.
Collymore’s response was emphatic and he highlighted exactly what City need to do in order to cement their legacy among the greats.
“There is not one team that is regarded as a European football all time great team that hasn’t won the European Cup,” Collymore tweeted.
“And most of the greats have dominated the European Cup at the same time as the domestic league.
“Madrid, Milan, Ajax, Bayern, Liverpool, Barcelona…these are facts.
“The question was simple. ‘Can City be regarded as a great team without winning the European Cup?’
“Answer? No.
“Supplementary question, ‘who are the all time great European club teams?’
“Answer? Ones that dominated league and European Cup for a period.”
It was then put to Collymore that Forest potentially had it easier as there were fewer games to play in the European Cup than the Champions League.
However, he dismissed that point entirely and highlighted how it was arguably harder given the one shot nature of the tournament then.
“Nottingham Forest, as Champions of England, had to face Liverpool, Champions of Europe. In round one. Unseeded.
“Liverpool’s greatest ever team, over two legs. Any team can win anything with 20 bites of a cherry, seeded.
“Try doing it in the last chance saloon on day 1.”
Finally, it was also suggested that because of the nature of teams like Cologne, Malmo and Hamburg, it was easier then due to a perceived lack of quality.
However, those teams qualified for the European Cup due to being champions of their country, rather than enter via third or fourth place in the league.
Collymore completely shut that argument down and then highlighted just how big an achievement it was for Forest.
“‘European Cup was **** because I don’t know the clubs that played in it.’
“All you need to know is that Arsenal, Chelsea, Spurs, Man United, Barcelona, PSG and Man City won two between them.
“The same amount that Forest won. Which is why the Champions League was invented.”
Does Stan Collymore have a point?