Former Chelsea winger Pat Nevin believes that the Blues are disliked because of their success and not because of the recent controversies surrounding John Terry and Ashley Cole.
The 49-year-old claims that the London club's success since their takeover by Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich in 2003 has caused fans of other less successful teams to turn against them.
"Whatever your position, one thing is crystal clear from the midst of the disagreement and confusion, and that is that Chelsea are not particularly liked by many fans of other Premier League clubs right now, so nothing new there then I guess," he wrote in his weekly column for Chelsea's official website.
"Being successful and being disliked go hand in hand in English football. Leeds United were abhorred in their heyday and Liverpool were not greatly loved during the '70s and '80s outside their own following while Manchester United similarly went through a phase of being only grudgingly accepted as a great side during their most successful time.
"Man City will also have to start getting used to it as well, particularly as they will always be hit by the comment: 'You only bought your success.'"
Nevin played for Chelsea between 1983 and 1988.
