Pep Guardiola has taken a swipe at Chelsea transfer spending under Todd Boehly while blasting Manchester critics.
Manchester City, who are under the clutches of FA for over 100 charges of financial breaches, have earned more critics from Premier League rivals than allies.
In the eve of the charges leveled against Manchester City last season, Premier League club owners and other stakeholders in the English elite division reportedly wanted the FA to clampdown on Manchester City with any sanctions or other disciplinary actions necessary.
Pep Guardiola, who was seemingly aware of the collective push for an action to be taken on Manchester City, grew furious and blasted other clubs for witch-hunting and conspiring against City due to the club’s recent dominance in the Premier League.
Before signing a new two-year contract with Manchester City last summer, Pep Guardiola’s future at City was a subject of speculation amid the FA charges. However, he chose to extend his deal with the club and pledged his support, insisting the club is innocent and will come out clean of the charges.
Guardiola has been persistent on defending Manchester City’s transfer spending amid claims the club have overspend their rivals in recent years and falsified financial dealings to cover up glaring breaches of Fair Play Rules.
Pep Guardiola blasts Manchester City critics again, points finger at Chelsea spending.
After the initial row with the club’s rivals amid the heat of the FA charges, Pep Guardiola has tore into the club’s critics again while pointing accusing fingers on Chelsea’s mounting transfer spending.
Speaking ahead of Manchester City crunch Premier League tie against Newcastle United, Guardiola said the walls of Manchester City would have been torn down if the club spent close to what Chelsea have spent so far under new owner Todd Boehly
”I couldn’t sit here if we spent what Chelsea spent in the last two transfer windows – you would kill me,’ Guardiola said. ‘You will kill me, that is for sure. We’d be under scrutiny like you couldn’t imagine”.
The former Bayern Munich manager insisted people’s mindset must change towards Manchester City.
Guardiola added he doesn’t intentionally want to criticize Chelsea but just want to point out the biases that has muffled the same critics, who have been on the neck of Manchester City, but avoid talking about Chelsea transfer spending.
”I don’t criticise Chelsea for one second. I’m saying if we do it, we are dead, all around the world. People’s mindset has to change – everyone spends.. A lot. Not just City.”
Generally, Pep Guardiola seemed to tear down restrictive financial regulations that may limit clubs from doing the “best football possible for the fans, win titles, and get better.”
“They can do whatever they want. They want to do the best football possible for the fans, they want to win the titles and every season get better and better.”
Chelsea transfer spending under Todd Boehly
Chelsea splashed out a whooping £601.7m last summer on new signings. This summer, the club have not buckled down on their transfer spending.
Chelsea are Premier League biggest-spenders this summer, having now dolled out a record £336.7m following the £58m signing of Romeo Lavia from Liverpool
After the record £106m deal with Benfia for Enzo Fernandez last summer, Chelsea have defied the odds to beat Enzo’s deal with the signing of Moises Caicedo for £115m from Brighton.
Also on the list of club’s new signings and their transfer value are Christopher Nkunku (£52m), Axel Disasi (£38.8m), Nicolas Jackson (£32m), Robert Sanchez (£25m), and Lesley Ugochukwu (£23.1m).
Other players signed with undisclosed fees are Angelo Gabriel, Ishe Samuels-Smith, Diego Moreira, Alex Matos.
Pep Guardiola hopeful of another transfer signing to replace injured Kevin De Bruyne
Kevin De Bruyne will be out for four to five months after picking up a harmstring issue in Premier League opener against Burnley.
Guardiola has not ruled out his intention to shop for a replacement for the Belgian playmaker despite the sleuthing eyes of critics.
“We have to see what happens in the market and if we can do it and to pay what we believe is fair,” he said.
Guardiola was eyeing a move for West Ham’s Lucas Paqueta. Futballnews understands the move has collapsed as FA has opened investigations into allegations of gambling breaches.
A guilty verdict could see the Brazilian midfielder frozen out of the Premier League like Brenford forward, Ivan Toney.
