Manchester City manager, Pep Guardiola, has dismissed claims that his team’s success in the Premier League is getting boring. He argues that if money alone determined success, Manchester United and Chelsea would be challenging City for the title. Guardiola points out that both United and Chelsea have spent as much money as City in recent years but have not been able to achieve the same level of success.
While City cannot be considered an underdog, they are actually seventh on the list of net spend in the Premier League over the past five years. This is less than half of what Chelsea, Manchester United, and Arsenal have spent. It is also less than what Tottenham, Newcastle, and Aston Villa have spent. City has been able to bring their spending down by selling players for significant sums. These players, such as Gabriel Jesus and Riyad Mahrez, may not be automatic first choices, but their sales have helped City financially.
Guardiola admits that at the start of the season, winning the league four times in a row was not something they were thinking about. However, as they got closer to achieving this historic feat, the significance of it began to sink in. No team has ever won the top flight four seasons in a row since the English league was created in 1888. Guardiola mentions legendary teams like Liverpool in the ’80s and Sir Alex Ferguson’s Manchester United in the ’90s who were unable to accomplish this feat.
The fact that City has been able to maintain their dominance in the Premier League despite not being the highest spenders is a testament to their squad depth and tactical acumen. Guardiola’s ability to rotate his players effectively and get the best out of them has been key to their success. It shows that success in football is not solely determined by how much money a club spends but also by factors like team chemistry, coaching, and player development.
As City approaches what could be a historic fourth successive league title, they continue to prove that they are the team to beat in English football. While their success may seem inevitable at times, it is important to recognize the hard work and strategic decisions that have brought them to this point. Guardiola’s comments serve as a reminder that money alone cannot guarantee success in football, and that there are many other factors at play.