Firstly, his fear – being “really concerned” – that the vast money from Abu Dhabi, that has transformed not just the club but parts of the city, could go.
Secondly, that “I can’t intervene more” in the process that is ongoing. What does “more” mean?
To be fair, as you can see in the full quote above and he said repeatedly elsewhere in the interview, he was trying to be circumspect about it all.
“I am not getting directly involved in the process,” he told me, later adding “I have to keep my distance from it.”
But, the cumulative impression many were left with was that he was sympathetic to Manchester City’s situation, not least because he repeatedly compared it to a vastly smaller row involving his own club Everton’s finances a few years ago.
“I remember people proclaiming Everton guilty at the time, and you know, with hindsight, I think more people would say that wasn’t fair the way that was handled. So it would be wrong of me to leap to one side given the experience that I’d had before becoming prime minister.”
Everton were docked Premier League points over it.
Despite the gravity and breadth of what Manchester City now confront, Andy Burnham offered no explicit criticism of them.
The back pages and the sports channels as well as news sites and social media were quickly ablaze with the remarks.
And by teatime on Thursday, No10 were back-pedalling.
A written statement was sent out, which again is worth quoting in full:
“As the prime minister made clear, the initial judgement is serious and there can’t be any suggestion that anyone is above the rules. He also stressed that it is an ongoing independent process. It is essential that it is allowed to run its course and the outcome respected.
“If wrongdoing is established, those responsible should face the appropriate consequences.”
Some 59 words that could be replaced by a picture of a reversing light – the tone and language completely different from Burnham’s to me on camera.
But even that statement didn’t last long. Immediately, the first word of the second paragraph of it was jumped on. “If.”
Remember, the Premier League says Manchester City arranged “sham contracts” with a number of commercial partners as part of a scheme to disguise secret funding of almost a billion pounds. The club deny wrongdoing and are considering an appeal, but the Premier League’s conclusion is clear.
But Downing Street said “if.” Fast forward a little over an hour, and the statement was re-issued. “If” became “wherever.”
In real time, No10’s jitters and discomfort about this was there for all to see.
The prime minister seen as Mr Manchester, who loves his football and revels in a man of the people image, caught up in one of the biggest domestic stories of the year and one that is only just beginning.
It is won’t be the last time he faces questions about Manchester City.
