Success, without a doubt, increases your fan base, and it is difficult for non-city clubs like Chelsea and others to compete with city clubs like Liverpool and Manchester United, where nearly everyone who grew up there became a fan right away.
98% of my state's population supports our local club, Rivers United, in the Nigeria Premier League, good or bad. Liverpool dominated in the 1980s, Manchester United dominated in the 1990s, and Chelsea rose to prominence in the 2000s, so most of our fans emerged from the cave once the team provided us with something to be proud of.
And to be honest I actually not only agree but say this is correct and should be a right thing to happen. Why else would a club want success if not to build a fanbase? Cup money is temporary. Fan money is forever
But I think the thing here I wanted to say is about plastic fans. Fans who only suddenly show up because they have a great team, but once the team is down, they are quiet and disappear.
Worse, they even change teams! I saw too many Manchester United fans who suddenly became Chelsea fans and worse now become City fans. I never understood this. This is something quite common among Asians plastic fans.
I feel like it makes a difference like City having quiet fans, even remember Mourinho complained Stamford bridge was quiet stadium. He should have expected that tho, majority were the plastic fans who only showed up because of Russian money. At least now you can see who is a true Chelsea fan if they're still showing up. Same as Barca and United lol
