Manchester United supporters resurrect classic chant to needle City’s financial fallout

When the Premier League’s independent commission handed Manchester City a staggering list of financial breaches earlier this month, the North West’s football map seemed to tilt in Manchester United’s favour. It wasn’t just headlines and boardroom drama that made the rounds – the real spectacle unfolded at Old Trafford, where United supporters seized the moment to dust off a chant that’s been lurking in the stands for years.

The chant, familiarly known among locals as “We love you, we hate you – twist the knife”, dates back to the 2008 title‑race when United edged City by a single point. Fans would shout, “You’re the only team that can’t win the league, we love you, we hate you – twist the knife!” It was part‑play, part‑protest, a way of ribbing their neighbours while still acknowledging the city’s shared footballing heritage.

On Saturday, as United prepared to host a mid‑week friendly, the first notes of the old refrain rose from the terraces, louder this time because City’s recent guilty verdict added fresh bite. “You think you’re rich, you think you’re untouchable,” sang a chorus of scarves, “but we’re still here, we twist the knife!” The words were punctuated by claps, whistles and a sea of red‑and‑white flags, turning a routine pre‑match warm‑up into a theatrical showdown.

Social media lit up with reactions. One fan on Twitter, @RedDevilMike, wrote, “Nothing like a good old chant to remind City they’re still the under‑dogs in Manchester. #TwistTheKnife”. Another, @OldTraffordGirl, posted a video of the crowd, captioning it, “History repeats itself. If they’re guilty, they’ll feel it on the pitch and in the stands.” Even a former City player, now pundit, admitted, “It’s painful to hear that chant again, but that’s football – passion and rivalry go hand‑in‑hand.”

While the chant may be light‑hearted in tone, its resurgence underscores how deeply the derby rivalry is woven into everyday life in Manchester. Whether the Blues can shake off the legal cloud hanging over them or not, the echo of United fans’ lyrics will remind anyone walking past Old Trafford that the city’s football story is still being written, one chant at a time.