Hindustan Times ST (Mumbai) - Live
Chelsea’s heavy splurge baffles Pep, Klopp
LONDON: Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola and Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp say they are bewildered by Chelsea’s huge spending spree during the January transfer window.
Chelsea signed eight new players last month, taking their total outlay since the end of last season to more than £500 million ($605 million).
In contrast, City spent just £8 million on Argentine midfielder Maximo Perrone during the January window, while Liverpool brought in Netherlands forward Cody Gakpo from PSV Eindhoven for a fee of 40-50 million euros.
Guardiola suggested City, given their past issues with FFP, would have faced considerable criticism and scrutiny had they matched Chelsea’s level of investment in new signings.
“I know what would happen. It’s none of my business but it’s a surprise because it’s not a ‘state’ club,” Guardiola, whose club is owned by the Abu Dhabi United Group, said on Friday.
“What Chelsea do is not my business, I never involve opinions in other clubs because there are regulations, rules, that we have to do. But we were accused. I don’t forget, eight or nine teams in the Premier League sent a letter to the Premier League for us to be banned. That happened to us.”
Klopp was also stunned by the level of Chelsea’s spending on improving Graham Potter’s team, who are currently a lowly 10th in the Premier League.
“I don’t understand this part of the business. What you can do, what you cannot do. However, it’s a big number in the last two windows. The players they brought in, I didn’t think once ‘Why did they do that?’ They are all really good players, so from that point of view congratulations when you can do it, and obviously they do it,” Klopp said on Friday.
‘No excuses’ for Arsenal after bolstering squad
Mikel Arteta says Arsenal can have no excuses if they do not win the Premier League title for the first time in two decades after strengthening their squad during the January transfer window. Arteta splashed out more than £50 million ($61 million) on three new signings bringing in Italy midfielder Jorginho, Belgium forward Leandro Trossard and Poland defender Jakub Kiwior.
Arteta was asked about whether there would now be no excuses if Arsenal failed to get over the line. “If you want to put it that way, that’s fine,” he said. “What we have to do is train really well and win. That’s the only thing we can do.”
TV timings (key matches): Everton vs Arsenal (6pm, Star Sports Select 1 & HD), Man United vs Crystal Palace (8:30pm, Star Sports Select), Wolves vs Liverpool (8:30pm, Star Sports Select).