SAY BUY BUY TO THE TITLE
Conte takes a swipe at Manc giants: You can’t just spend for success
ANTONIO CONTE issued a stinging assessment of Jose Mourinho and Pep Guardiola by insisting money cannot buy success.
The Chelsea boss said: “I think, this season, it’s very important to understand it’s not always about who spends
the most money. In this league, this season, the name of the team wasn’t Chelsea or Tottenham or Arsenal or Liverpool. You understand?
“This season isn’t the only season the Manchester clubs have spent a lot of money. It’s normal.
“It’s right for them to do this, to reinforce their teams, if they think this is the right way to win the title. You’ve seen the past – every season they spend a lot of money.
“If you have to spend money, try to spend that money in the right way to take players with the right characteristics for your idea of football. But, for us, this season is very important because we are trying to build something for the present, to put down the foundations, and be stronger for the future.
“To become a real power in the future.”
Manchester United and Manchester City were the big spenders last summer as the Reds blew in excess of £150million on players, including a world record £89m on Paul Pogba, while rivals City splashed nearly £200m.
Conte is now closing in on the Double in his first season while City boss Guardiola will finish the campaign empty-handed.
United chief Mourinho’s title challenge fell flat and faces a battle just to make the Champions League.
Chelsea did splash £110m themselves last summer, but their net spend for the season was only around £50m, after Oscar’s £60m move to China in January.