Former Manchester City and England U-21 player Nedum Onuoha was in India as part of City's treble trophy—FA Cup, Premier League and Champions League—tour. Now 36, Onuoha was a highly regarded prospect—a versatile defender with good recovery pace. But, injuries meant that he was unable to fulfil the promise he showed. He still played around 100 times for City between 2004 and 2012 and was at the club when the new era began. He has since witnessed with delight the meteoric rise of his beloved club to become, arguably, the best football team in the world today.
Onuoha is now an ambassador for City and he spoke to journalists at a roundtable in Kochi on September 22, during the first of the tour's two stops in India (the second is in Mumbai). Having risen through the ranks at City's youth academy, he spoke of how there is more emphasis on youth development now, City's chances of repeating the treble, the club's legacy and the phenomenon that is Erling Haaland. Edited excerpts from his responses to THE WEEK's questions:
Q/ Do you think City can repeat the treble this season?
A/ I think they are good enough. But, in my lifetime, I have only seen it twice [in England]; in 1999, and, more importantly, last season. You need so many things to go your way, including players staying healthy. I am sure they hope to do it. And maybe they can. But, I don't expect them to do it. Because it is one of the greatest things you can achieve in professional football. So, may be. But, it is unlikely.
Q/ We are seeing a lot of quality youth players coming through the academy. As a player who came through the ranks at City, what do you think has changed or improved in terms of youth development under the new regime?
A/ When I started playing professionally in 2004, young players were not the most important players. There was more emphasis on players who were 27 to 29 years of age. Because they were perceived as being the final product. Now, there is a greater emphasis on development. [As a result,] the players these days, coming through the academy, I think they understand the game more than people my age when I was first coming through. They understand the way Man City want to play. They understand the way that football works.
These are better players coming in. And they have so much potential. So, I think they are the right people to invest in. The future of the game lies with them. So, ownership groups, especially at City, have put an emphasis on creating the best environment for them to prosper.
Q/ In a market like India, many City fans may not know about the club's history and legends like Richard Dunne before the new era. Do you think the club should do more to educate fans in such markets so that they can form a deeper connect with City?
A/ The [recent] success does bring attention. Not to say that everyone must know the history, but, I think, the way that football goes, if you support the football club, you start to look into their history. You start to understand why you see certain faces in certain places. In Manchester, Erling Haaland could be walking down the street. So, could Shaun Wright-Phillips or Paul Dickov. And they will all get the same attention, even though they are from different generations. Because, the longer you support the football club, [the more] you know the history and how it got to the place where it is. So, it is not to say that people have to know the past. But, when you really fall in love with a football club, you kind of want to [know]. So, I would recommend looking back into the club's history—it is not all great. It is not lots of trophies! But, it is the reason so many people hold the club so dear. A lot of people worked very hard to get the club to this point. And without, say a Paul Dickov in 1999 in the second-division playoff final, there is no Erling Haaland in 2023 lifting the Champions League trophy.
Q/ You mentioned Haaland. As a former defender, and you were a fast defender....
A/ Listen, I am glad I am retired (laughs)....
Q/ How do you defend against him?
A/ He is really tall, really strong, really fast. And he is really good at scoring goals. And he plays for one of the best teams in the world. Realistically, you can never really focus on one player. Because you try and stop one, then you forget about others. That is one of the gifts that Manchester City have. So, you try and make things hard for him... [and] as he shoots, you hope that he misses.
Q/ But, he also misses. For example, as per Premier League stats, he missed 28 "big chances", while scoring his 36 goals last season. So, scary as it sounds, there seems to be room for improvement.
A/ Without question. Last season him and Harry Kane [were being compared]. And, I thought, well Harry Kane is seven years older. Picture Erling Haaland in seven years time. He was 22 years of age and being spoken of as if he was at the peak of his career. I think he has got a real hard desire to work hard and improve his craft. He wants to be the absolute best. So, as far as scary thoughts go, Haaland in his mid 20s or late 20s might end up being one of the greatest players we have ever seen.