City just not rich enough to win four trophies, says Pep
PEP GUARDIOLA has claimed Manchester City do not have the resources to win the quadruple this season.
Though City have the most expensive squad in the Premier League, their manager insists they have not got the unlimited funds people think to fight on four fronts
Three clubs — Manchester United, Liverpool and Chelsea — have spent more on a player than City’s record signing, and last week Alexis Sanchez moved to United after City could not match his £350,000-a-week basic salary.
Speaking ahead of their FA Cup fourth-round tie at Cardiff today, Guardiola said: ‘To compete at high level in four competitions you need 22 top players. Today that’s so expensive, so you cannot buy. Even City. There are salaries we cannot pay. It’s money we don’t have.’
Guardiola is poised to break City’s transfer record by signing Athletic Bilbao defender Aymeric Laporte for £57million — less than Paul Pogba, Romelu Lukaku, Virgil van Dijk and Alvaro Morata.
‘We haven’t paid £100m, or £90m or £80m for one player,’ added Guardiola. ‘Right now, we can’t pay. They (City’s bosses) tell me. That is the truth.’
Guardiola’s message could be seen as a retort to United boss Jose Mourinho, who complained before signing Sanchez that City were outspending his club.
It also puts City under pressure to try to sign their first £100m player in the summer, with Atletico Madrid’s Antoine Griezmann a possibility if Sergio Aguero leaves. Thomas Lemar of Monaco and Real Madrid’s Gareth Bale could also be available at the end of the season.
Meanwhile, Kevin de Bruyne has insisted that City cannot be focused on making history while taking on Cardiff.
A dozen points clear at the top of the Premier League and reaching the Carabao Cup final last week, Guardiola’s team move on to the third element of the four trophies they are currently chasing.
But de Bruyne says games come so fast that he has not had time to focus on the historical opportunities opening up for his club.
He said: ‘Everyone talks about going for four cups but we’re not thinking ahead. We’re only thinking of winning the next game.’
The Belgian may be rested today at Cardiff but insists he is happy to keep playing and has revealed that he and his colleagues are happy to play extra games because they want to help team-mate David Silva, who has had to miss games to care for his baby son, Mateo, who was born prematurely.
‘It’s a difficult situation with David and you have to respect that,’ added de Bruyne. ‘That is more important than anything.’