Guardiola says net spend shifts trophy pressure

• Pep Guardiola said six Premier League rivals should face more scrutiny for trophies because they have outspent Manchester City on a net basis over the past five years.
• Guardiola said City are seventh for net spend since summer 2021 and joked he is “grumpy” the club did not spend more in January.
• City host Newcastle in the Carabao Cup semi-final second leg on Wednesday, with Marc Guéhi ineligible and Rayan Cherki being assessed after a knock.

Pep Guardiola has pushed back at claims Manchester City only win because of money, arguing the pressure should now fall on rival clubs who have spent more over the last five years.

Speaking after City’s January business, Guardiola said City sit seventh in the Premier League’s net spend table since the summer of 2021 and suggested that should change where the scrutiny lands.

Manchester United, Arsenal, Chelsea, Tottenham and Newcastle were identified among the clubs with a higher net spend in that period, and Guardiola said the expectation to deliver trophies should match that financial outlay.

Asked about City adding Antoine Semenyo and Marc Guéhi in January, Guardiola said: “Yeah, really good.

“I’m a little bit sad and upset because in net spend in the last five years we are seventh in the Premier League.

“I want to be the first. I don’t understand why the club don’t spend more money. I am a little bit grumpy with them.

“But like we won in the past because we spent a lot, now six teams have to win the Premier Leagues, Champions Leagues and FA Cups because they spend more in the last five years.

“These are facts. It’s not an opinion. You can say an opinion, like you say you play good or bad against Spurs – we can agree or disagree.

“But they are facts. Good luck to the six teams who are in front of us for net spend for the last five years. Let’s go. I’m waiting. That’s a nice quote, eh?”

City now turn their focus to Newcastle in the Carabao Cup semi final second leg at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday, with Guardiola chasing a fifth final in 10 years in the competition.

Guéhi is unavailable because he is ineligible, while Cherki is being monitored after picking up a knock in the weekend draw with Tottenham. Rúben Dias returned to training on Sunday, leaving Guardiola to weigh up whether to use him.

“We have a chance to make our fifth final in 10 years in the Carabao Cup,” Guardiola said.

“Of course a good result [in the first leg] I prefer to start 2-0 up, but I know how many times we play against Newcastle and the pride they have as a Champions League team.

“We have to be prepared and see how the players recover from a tough game at Spurs and play our game with our people and our fans and try to reach Wembley in March.”