‘You would kill me’ - Pep Guardiola takes swipe at Chelsea’s spending

Mauricio Pochettino hails Pep Guardiola

FOOTBALL ‘You would kill me’ - Pep Guardiola takes swipe at Chelsea’s spending

Joel Omotto 14:09 - 19.08.2023

The Manchester City manager feels Chelsea are allowed to get away with big-money transfers unlike the Premier League champions.

Pep Guardiola has claimed that critics would be queuing up to 'kill' Manchester City had they splurged the finances Chelsea have devoted to new signings over the last 12 months.

Former City midfielder Romeo Lavia became the latest to join Mauricio Pochettino's side on Friday in a £ 58 million switch, taking Chelsea's spending to almost £1 billion under Todd Boehly.

Guardiola has long been agitated at the perception that City, charged by the Premier League for alleged financial breaches, outspend all of their rivals and maintained that they will not be held to ransom when attempting to land anyone to fill the void left by the injured Kevin De Bruyne.

De Bruyne underwent an operation on his hamstring problem and could be out for as long as five months, while pursuit of West Ham United's Lucas Paqueta is now on the ropes.

“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.

“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.”

Guardiola added: “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.”

“We're not at our best, or our top. We need time. It's normal and we adjusted a few things but the spirit is there. Tomorrow we need the Etihad Stadium full. Stay with us please, we are not in our best moment. Stay there in the bad moments.”