The impending Oasis reunion concerts in Manchester have ignited a humorous rivalry between players of the city’s two prominent football clubs, Manchester United and Manchester City. United players, finding their usual VIP access lacking in the face of the Gallagher brothers’ staunch City allegiance, are reportedly relying on their City rivals, particularly those with close ties to Noel and Liam Gallagher, to secure coveted tickets. The Gallagher brothers, notorious for their City fandom and frequent presence in the team’s dressing room after derby victories, are unlikely to prioritize requests from their rival club’s players. This has led United players to leverage friendships forged during international duty and other social gatherings, hoping their City counterparts can pull some strings and grant them access to the highly anticipated concerts.
The situation presents a comical reversal of roles for the United players, accustomed to being the “hottest ticket in town” with an entourage often fulfilling their every whim. They are now forced to rely on the goodwill of their rivals, acknowledging that their usual channels are unlikely to yield results with the fiercely loyal Gallagher brothers. Players like Amad Diallo and Bruno Fernandes are among those hoping to benefit from this cross-club camaraderie and secure tickets to the sold-out shows. The source of this information paints a picture of mild desperation on the part of the United players, accustomed to a privileged position now having to navigate the complexities of personal connections and rivalries to achieve their desired outcome.
Adding to the intrigue is Jack Grealish’s public admission of his own ticket predicament. Despite his close friendship with Noel Gallagher, the City star revealed he had yet to secure his own entry to the concerts, citing uncertainty surrounding City’s Club World Cup schedule as the reason. Grealish’s candid revelation underscores the high demand for these tickets, even among those with direct links to the band. His eagerness to attend, emphasizing that it would be his first time seeing Oasis live, highlights the significance of these reunion shows for Manchester and the wider music scene. It further reinforces the unusual position of the United players, having to rely on individuals who are themselves scrambling for access.
Noel Gallagher’s complex relationship with the Manchester football landscape further complicates the narrative. While a devoted City supporter alongside his brothers Liam and Paul, Noel acknowledges that the vast majority of his extended family are United fans. This familial divide, with thousands of relatives supporting the rival club, adds a layer of irony to the current ticket scramble. Noel’s anecdote about his father taking him to City matches as a child, despite the prevailing United support within the family, reveals the roots of his own allegiance and provides a glimpse into the history of football fandom within the Gallagher family. This intricate web of allegiances and rivalries adds a personal dimension to the already entertaining narrative of the ticket quest.
The Oasis reunion concerts are set against a backdrop of shifting footballing fortunes in Manchester. The band’s split in 2009 coincided with the Abu Dhabi United Group’s takeover of Manchester City, a period that has seen the club achieve unprecedented success, winning eight Premier League titles. In contrast, Manchester United has struggled to replicate its former glory since Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement in 2013, failing to secure a Premier League title during that period. This contrasting trajectory adds another layer of rivalry to the ticket pursuit, with City fans, including the Gallagher brothers, often reveling in their team’s recent dominance over their struggling rivals.
The humorous anecdote of Manchester City’s poorly received “Oasis kit” further fuels the playful banter between the two clubs. The unveiling of the kit, inspired by the band’s iconic album covers, backfired spectacularly, with fans criticizing its design and comparing it to a popular sweet. This incident serves as a lighthearted reminder of the cultural impact of Oasis and the delicate balance between honoring a legacy and creating something aesthetically pleasing. It also provides another point of amusement for United fans, offering a moment of levity amidst their team’s on-field struggles and their current predicament in the quest for Oasis tickets. This incident, combined with the ticket scramble, underscores the intertwined nature of football and music in Manchester, where club loyalties and artistic appreciation often intersect in amusing and unexpected ways.
