Pep Guardiola is steadfast in Manchester City's success and not in money

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has dismissed claims that the club's success is “boring” and down to their spending.

The Premier League champions are on the verge of winning the title for the fourth season in a row, but they have been criticized by fans and experts for their constant eating in the top division.

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Guardiola's side have won their last four games by an aggregate score of 15-1, closing the gap on goal difference to Arsenal and extending their unbeaten run to 21 games.

If they can win the title and FA Cup at the end of the month, they will become the first English club to do the home and cup double in consecutive seasons.

Although they have a reputation for spending big on players like Jack Grealish, Josko Gvardiol and Ruben Dias, the truth is that they are not spending as much as their rivals.

The money spent by City in the last five years is ranked seventh in this category, behind Arsenal, Manchester United, Chelsea, Tottenham, Newcastle and Aston Villa.

This depends on their ability to source players and buy them, with Gabriel Jesus, Riyad Mahrez and Cole Palmer to name a few who have been left out for big payouts in recent years.

🔵❗️ Pep Guardiola: “You say it's all about money? Man United, Chelsea, Arsenal… they should have been there”.pic.twitter.com/aB9e1qEN5q

– Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) May 14, 2024

Pep talk

Speaking ahead of the trip to Tottenham, Guardiola said: “It's not boring. It's difficult.

“Before it was money. For that reason, Manchester United should have won all the titles, Chelsea – all the titles, Arsenal – all the titles.

“They spent as much money in the last five years as we did. They should be there. There are none.

“For that reason, Girona should not be in the Champions League [next season] and Leicester should win the Premier League. “

City are closing in on becoming the first team to win four top-flight titles in a row since the division was founded in 1888.

Guardiola admits it wasn't something he had in mind at the start of the campaign but now understands success ahead of the final weekend.

He continued: “At the beginning of the season we didn't think about that.

“However, we were in February, March and April, we were still there. After that something ignites in our heads.

“No team has done it yet. That shows how difficult it is. Liverpool in the '80s, Sir Alex Ferguson's United in the '90s. Chelsea with [Roman] Abramovich and Jose [Mourinho]Arsenal with [Arsene] Wenger didn't do it.”