Aymeric Laporte has pulled no punches in identifying the gap between Manchester United and Manchester City, suggesting fans of the former aren't used to the current situation.
City are pushing for what would be a second successive Premier League title, and a fourth in five years with Laporte in the side. The Spanish international was a record signing when he linked up with Pep Guardiola in January 2018, and is set to play his 100th Premier League game against Burnley this weekend.
Laporte has sent title rivals Liverpool a message, while preparing to take on the Reds twice in April after the pair made FA Cup progress in March. However, Jurgen Klopp's side aren't the only rivals in his sights, and it's unlikely Man Utd fans won't take too kindly to his comments.
“You notice that,” Laporte told The Guardian when asked if he felt people were waiting for City to fail. "Maybe it’s not that they’re tired of us but they don’t think it’s normal we always win."
City have won 10 trophies across the last four seasons with Laporte part of the squad. In addition to the 2017-18, 2018-19 and 2020-21 Premier League titles, they have one FA Cup win, four League Cups and two Community Shield victories, while Manchester United have won nothing across the same period.
"That can annoy people, like our neighbours who haven’t won anything," the 27-year-old continued. "They have a lot of supporters, we’re in the same city. It’s hard [for them] to understand. But there’s only one winner. They’ve spent a lot of money too."
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Laporte's comments have come at a time when Manchester United star Paul Pogba has voiced his frustrations at his own club's on-field struggles. Pogba was part of the United team which won the Europa League in 2017, but has not added to his haul since then.
"I can decide tomorrow, as I can decide during the transfer window. I want to come back, finish the season well," the French international told Telefoot.
"The season is not over yet, but almost because we don't have any more titles to play for. I want to win titles, to play for something and this year and the last few years we haven't won a title. It's sad."
United finished second behind City in the 2017-18, but were distant runners-up with a gap of 19 points between the two sides. Going into this weekend's fixtures, City sit 20 points clear of their neighbours having beaten them 2-0 at Old Trafford and 4-1 at the Etihad Stadium to leave Ralf Rangnick's side down in sixth and playing catch-up in the race for Champions League qualification.
