Manchester City coach, Pep Guardiola has said that he would have been hounded by his critics if the club spent the way the new owners of Chelsea FC have.
Chelsea have spent close to £1 billion ($1.3bn) since Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital took control in May 2022.
Commenting on this at a press conference, Guardiola said;
“I couldn’t sit here if we spent what Chelsea spent in the last two transfer windows – you would kill me. You will kill me, that is for sure. We’d be under scrutiny like you couldn’t imagine. We have to see what happens in the market and if we can do it and to pay what we believe is fair. We wanted (Harry) Maguire and didn’t buy him because we didn’t want to pay, we wanted (Marc) Cucurella and didn’t pay, we wanted Alexis Sanchez and didn’t pay.
“In the end we will pay what is fair to do it. Otherwise we have the academy. We won’t be desperate just to get another player. 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.”
Pep Guardiola added that he has no issue with the way Chelsea have gone about their business. He said;
“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. Everybody wins. Tell me the truth: are you enjoying the transfer window? This player, the other one, every few months on Sky TV, a new player here, new player there. It’s so funny. I would love it to be shorter, I would like to finish the transfer window before the season but it is what it is.”