Opinions among several Manchester United heroes are split when it comes to adding more Premier League titles to their collection
Manchester City Premier League trophy 2018
Manchester City's Premier League dominance has been called into question(Image: Matthew Ashton - AMA/Getty Images)
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The prospect of Manchester City being retroactively stripped of Premier League titles has ignited a fierce debate among Manchester United legends. The league leaders were found guilty of 114 breaches between 2009 and 2018 and finished ahead of their city rivals on goal difference to win the title in 2012.
They bested United to the title for a second time in 2018 after capturing a record 100 points for the season, finishing 19 points ahead of the Reds. A punishment for City's guilty verdict has yet to be decided, with the club lodging a formal appeal and maintaining their innocence.
While some former players argue that receiving retrospective winners' medals would deliver delayed justice for seasons lost by fine margins, others reject the idea of accepting silverware that wasn't won on the pitch.
Here are six Old Trafford figures who've already declared their stance on the situation...
Paul Pogba
Paul Pogba speaks
Paul Pogba has given his verdict on Man City's title controversy(Image: @raushansays)
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Two of Paul Pogba's seasons in his second stint at Manchester United saw the club finish second behind Pep Guardiola's City. United's second-placed finish in the 2017/18 season fell within the Citizens' breach of Premier League financial rules.
The Frenchman was brief but clear in his desire for his former club to be awarded two extra league titles, added to their trophy cabinet. When asked about the situation during his appearance at the Singapore Grand Prix, the free agent said: "I just hope it doesn't affect the Premier League. Hopefully we can get two titles back."
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Paul Scholes
Paul Scholes speaks into a microphone
Paul Scholes would seek a 12th Premier League medal if Man City's titles are stripped(Image: PA)
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Paul Scholes was less than apologetic in his desire to see his tally of 11 Premier League titles increase by one if City were to get stripped of their maiden league triumph in the 2011/12 season. The United icon came out of retirement midway through that campaign and played a key role in the club's push for the championship.
The 51-year-old took to his Instagram Stories to declare his desire to receive another medal, as he wrote: "Keep hearing ex-team-mates saying they want trophies taking off them but they don’t want their medals… f*** that I’m a greedy b**** I want my medal."
Rio Ferdinand
Opting for the humorous route, Rio Ferdinand joked that ex-Man City defender Joleon Lescott should be forced to hand over his medal to him. Speaking on Rio Ferdinand Presents, the six-time Premier League winner said: "When I see Joleon, I'm actually going to go to his house and just say, ‘Listen, hand it over. Hand it over.'
Rio Ferdinand speaks into a microphone
Rio Ferdinand would also welcome another league medal(Image: YouTube / Rio Ferdinand Presents)
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"You can't really sit there and say that you were champions, can you? Or you won that or you won that. Well, they're not going to have to pay any fines. They're not going to get relegated. Just hand over the trophy. Hand over the medals, hand over the trophy. Simple as."
Wayne Rooney
Wayne Rooney would be sitting on six league titles if he were to receive a retrospective winners' medal with United, but the club's record goalscorer can't fathom why his former team-mates would accept the honour.
The pundit had the best scoring season of his career (27 league goals) in the 2011/12 campaign and confirmed his stance on the possibility of earning another league triumph on a recent episode of Match of the Day.
Wayne Rooney has had his say on Man City's titles after the guilty verdict.
Wayne Rooney had his say on Man City's titles after the guilty verdict(Image: Match of the Day)
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Asked whether he'd accept the medal by host Kelly Cates, Rooney said: "It's difficult. I look at it from the players' point of view. I'm assuming all the players didn't know what was going on. They went onto the football pitch and won the league, while we finished second. We didn't finish first. Why would we want a medal for finishing second?"
Michael Owen
The only Premier League title of Michael Owen's career came at Old Trafford in the 2010/11 campaign, but the chance to double that tally isn't an attractive prospect to the former England striker. Speaking to GOAL, he said: "I think I'd be entitled to an extra league medal if that was the case, but it wouldn't feel like it.
"To me, football is about memories and not 10, 15, 20 years later getting handed something. It's about that moment and then you get a medal, but that medal only takes you back to that moment and how you felt.
WOLVERHAMPTON, ENGLAND - MARCH 06: TNT Sports pundit Michael Owen during the Emirates FA Cup Fifth Round match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Liverpool on March 06, 2026 in Wolverhampton, England. (Photo by James Gill - Danehouse/Getty Images)
Michael Owen's sole league title came at Manchester United (Image: Getty Images)
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"That's how I feel about it. Everyone's different. I'm not one of those people wishing anything bad on others to gain myself. In my mind, I won what I won and I'm not bothered about anything now."
Michael Carrick
The United boss echoed similar sentiments to Owen, admitting that being awarded two titles in his case would not make up for the victorious moments he was denied in his playing career.
Carrick was part of both United's second-placed finishes to City in 2010/11 and 2017/18 and he opened up about his stance earlier this month. He said: "I think at the moment, as it's still not finalised, I think I'll hold that one until later on.
Michael Carrick pictured during his pre-match press conference in Madrid
Michael Carrick said City's dominance over the years has affected him(Image: Oscar DEL POZO / AFP via Getty Images)
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"I think regardless of anything, a medal anyway, in any sport in history, I think the later on you get the medal, and it's proven at different times. It's the moment that you strive for - to win and achieve in that moment - so the medal here or there, not getting blasé about it, but that doesn't bring the feeling of when you initially win or you don't win.
"That's essentially what we're all in it for. Certainly I've got my own questions about it, you know, it's affected me personally in different ways over a period of time."