Behind the chants and jeers, Man City may have more allies than anyone cares to admit… and Unai Emery’s silence speaks volumes, writes JACK GAUGHAN

Jack Gaughan argues that Manchester City may have quiet allies among rival Premier League clubs, particularly Aston Villa, despite public hostility and fan jeers. Following Villa's fourth straight home win over City, Gaughan suggests that clubs constrained by Premier League financial regulations might quietly welcome a favorable appeal result for City that disrupts current Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR).

The column highlights that Villa manager Unai Emery has stayed silent on City's legal verdicts, focusing instead on his own club's need to balance the books by trading players. While fans at Villa Park engaged in traditional taunts, Gaughan notes that executives at ambitious clubs like Villa and Nottingham Forest may share City's frustrations with financial constraints.