Pep Guardiola has poked fun at rivals Manchester United by claiming they can challenge more often if they "spend a little more".
The Manchester City boss has long faced questions about his club's financial power - and whether they'd have enjoyed their recent success without it. The Premier League champions are among the world's highest spenders, but are by no means the only club to go big in the transfer market.
Several of their domestic rivals - United included - as well as the likes of PSG have all invested heavily over the past decade with varying degrees of success. For a long time those on the red half of Manchester failed to get their recruitment right, whilst City have amassed notable amounts of silverware.
The Red Devils, who spent more than £200m in Erik ten Hag's first summer, won the Carabao Cup on Sunday - their first trophy for six years - and Guardiola has taken the opportunity to make light of their spending habits, given the criticism he and City receive.
He said: “Congratulations to United for the Carabao Cup and to Newcastle as well - the game was entertaining. If they spend a little more money, yes [they can challenge more regularly]. "It’s because they didn’t spend, isn’t it?
“It’s normal, they’re in the position they normally should be. The reality is that they fought against two teams in the last years - Liverpool and ourselves - that have done incredibly well in the numbers. When I landed here I thought United would always be there, for the history, for everything. Erik is doing an incredible job."
Guardiola has begun to speak out more about the perception his City have largely enjoyed success due to their spending power. He and his side have won four of the past five league titles and are eyeing a third on the bounce whilst they've continued to pick up domestic cups regularly.
The Catalan quipped recently that, after City made a profit with their summer business, their critics would have to find another angle if they were to claim the top flight. "They were saying in October or November we should win the league," he said. "Now, they can't say it was just the team who spent the most money because the last five years our net spend is fifth in England, 12th or 13th in Europe, so they can't say that. They'll have to change their argument."
Guardiola also commented on Chelsea 's huge outlay, with the Blues spending more than £500m since the summer. “It’s [Chelsea’s spending] a surprise because it’s not a club state,” he said sarcastically. “What I’m concerned [with] is we won 11 titles in the last five years being the fifth or sixth team in net spend in the Premier League. This is what I’m concerned about at this time. I know what would happen [if City had spent the same as Chelsea]. It happen[ed] in the last five or six years.”
