Pep Guardiola turns up the heat on Manchester City’s big-spending rivals

Pep Guardiola used sarcasm and statistics to defend Manchester City against claims the club’s success is down to money.

The City manager pointed out six rival clubs have outspent his over the past five years and challenged them to better his team on the field.

City spent £82.5million to bolster their squad in the January transfer window with the signings of Antoine Semenyo and Marc Guehi, continuing a squad overhaul that began last year.

Guardiola feels there is a perception City will continue splashing out in pursuit of the success they crave, while other clubs with larger recent expenditure are given an easier ride.

In terms of net spend, the latest deals took City’s outlay over the past five years to £396million, behind Manchester United (£675m), Arsenal (£663m), Chelsea (£651m), Tottenham (£574m), Newcastle (£424m) and Liverpool (£420m), according to figures from Transfermarkt.

Guardiola said: “I’m a little bit sad and upset because in net spend the last five years we are seventh in the Premier League.

“I want to be the first, I don’t understand why the club don’t spend more money! I am a little bit grumpy with them!

“But, like we won in the past because we spent a lot, now six teams have to win the Premier Leagues, Champions Leagues and FA Cups because they spent more in the last five years.

“These are facts. It’s not an opinion. You can say an opinion, like you say we played good or bad against Spurs – we can agree or disagree.

“But they are facts. Good luck to the six teams who are in front of us for net spend for the last five years. Let’s go. I’m waiting.”

Guardiola was speaking at a press conference ahead of the second leg of City’s Carabao Cup semi-final against Newcastle at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday.

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