“After that I learnt a lot more about football and then I realised that we had this team, City, which was actually in the heart of Manchester – playing at Maine Road in front of loyal fans who weren’t just in it for success.
...Menelik Watson...
“From there I thought this is my team, this is the right team to follow. Back then I can’t even remember what league we were in! I’ve been through the highs and the lows of promotion and relegation.”
It’s an exciting time to be a City fan in the USA, with the Blues squad currently in the middle of a post-season tour to the states, The club also announced this week, in partnership with the Yankees, the acquisition of New York City FC, a new football team expected to begin playing in Major League Soccer in 2015.
Football has been growing in popularity and influence across the Atlantic in recent years, but is currently enjoying something of an explosion.
“Americans are really interested in what the sport is,” Menelik reflected. “For the UK, it’s more than a sport, it’s a passion and once America can get to grips with that passion I think it will take off even more over here.
“I can definitely see them starting to watch it - especially the kids and the younger generation. People are FIFA crazy over here too.
“But they’ve got to stop calling it soccer and start calling it football like everyone else!”
...Menelik Watson...
Although he’s confident that the Blues can reclaim the title they won so dramatically in 2012 when the new season kicks off, Menelik is refusing to be downhearted about a 2012/13 campaign which saw City finish as Premier League runners up and reach the FA Cup final.
“I’ve had a lot of people telling me that it’s been a bad year, especially my brother and my friends who have been rubbing it in because they’re all United fans,” he explained. “But I’ve been through the times when we haven’t been up there challenging, and the fact that we’re in the top two and we can stay there is fantastic.
“We lost the FA Cup and we had a chance to creep up on United at the end of the season and we didn’t, but we finished in second place, we’re better than Chelsea and we’re better than Arsenal! We just need to keep that up and focus on not being a one hit wonder and we’ll be fine.
“I’m proud of them no matter what.”
