Paul Merson suggests Aston Villa are bigger club than Manchester City

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Aston Villa could potentially come up against Manchester City next season if they earn promotion to the Premier League.

Paul Merson has suggested that Aston Villa are a bigger club than Manchester City after brushing off claims that Pep Guardiola’s side are a bigger club than Manchester United.

Former Premier League playmaker Merson was adamant that City aren’t ‘nowhere near’ the size of the Old Trafford giants despite their recent success and he even questioned whether they are bigger than Villa.

One trophy that eludes Man City, at this moment in time, is the European Cup. A trophy which Villa have already won in their history and United have won on three occasions.

Speaking to Soccer Special on Sky Sports News (12/05/2019 12:10 pm), Merson offered his thoughts on the size of club Man City are compared to United and Villa.

On being a bigger club than Manchester United: “They are a better team. A much better team than Man Utd. Are they a bigger club? No chance. Nowhere near,” Merson told Soccer Saturday.

“Man Utd have got history. Manchester City haven’t got history, have they?! Not just about winning the league, you have got to win European Cups as well. Win the ultimate. You can’t just dominate your league. You have to go further adrift then that.

“Tiss [Matt Le Tissier] just asked me, who’s the bigger club Aston Villa or Man City? I think Villa have got the history, at the moment. They are a big football club, but they haven’t got that money.”

Villa are currently sitting in the second tier of English football, but just like Leeds and Nottingham Forest, they are one of a number of clubs with rich history outside of England’s top-flight.

During their history, Villa have won seven English league titles, whilst City have won five and can add a sixth to their cabinet on Sunday afternoon.

Added with that, Villa have seven FA Cups, five League Cups and that 1982 Europen Cup to their name, whilst City have won the FA Cup on five occasions and lifted their sixth League Cup this season.