what you’re talking about, bar City, is “on paper” other teams look like they have a better team - but they don’t because of the very reasons you list like “we play for one another”.
For example - Ronaldo is undoubtedly one of the best players ever to have kicked a ball and is supremely talented, skilled and will contribute loads of goals to any team he plays in.
He’s also a massive fanny that wouldn’t run the length of himself to track back, press or help out his team - so he’s also a fucking liability that only works if you build your team round servicing him and covering what he doesn’t do.
Chelsea and especially Utd are filled with talent that are also massive fannies - Pogba, Shaw, Maguire… I mean fuck me Utd are practically, to a man, all massive fannies that think they’re better than the are because they cost a fortune.
All the great teams (again bar those anomalous cunts at city) have has a smattering of “rubbish” players in the team, but thrived because of other attributes they brought.
It’s why, for example, you look at a forward line of Lukaku, Pulisic, Harvertz, Werner and Ziyech, marvel at the £350m of great talent that brings depth to a team…. and then try to get your head around the fact that combined they’ve contributed only 2 more goals than Firmino, Ox, Kieta, Origi and Minamino combined have done this season in the league.