Guardiola says media would ‘kill him’ if he splurged cash like Boehly’s Chelsea

Pep Guardiola has hit out at the media, claiming they would ‘kill him’ if Manchester City splurged as much money on new signings as Chelsea.

Todd Boehly’s spending since he took over at Chelsea is unrivalled in the Premier League – shelling out almost £1billion on new signings since he took over in May 2022, whilst City have spent £233m in the same time frame.

This week alone, Ex-City midfielder Romeo Lavia made the switch to Stamford Bridge for £58m, while Brighton & Hove Albion’s Moises Caicedo headed to West London for £115m – becoming the second £100m+ man in Chelsea’s midfield after Enzo Fernandez and setting a new British transfer record.

And City boss Guardiola has claimed the media would ‘kill him’ should he spend as much money as City boss, despite the £77.6m signing of Josko Gvardiol taking the Spaniard’s spending at the Etihad to over £1bn since his arrival in Manchester.

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Guardiola said: “I couldn't sit here if we spent what Chelsea spent in the last two transfer windows – you would kill me. You will kill me, that is for sure. We'd be under scrutiny like you couldn't imagine.

“We have to see what happens in the market and if we can do it and to pay what we believe is fair. We wanted (Harry) Maguire and didn't buy him because we didn't want to pay, we wanted (Marc) Cucurella and didn't pay, we wanted Alexis Sanchez and didn't pay.

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“In the end we will pay what is fair to do it. Otherwise we have the academy. We won't be desperate just to get another player.

“I don't criticise Chelsea for one second. I'm saying if we do it, we are dead, all around the world. People's mindset has to change – everyone spends… A lot. Not just City.”

Guardiola added: “They can do whatever they want. They want to do the best football possible for the fans, they want to win the titles and every season get better and better.

“Everybody wins. Tell me the truth: are you enjoying the transfer window? This player, the other one, every few months on Sky TV, a new player here, new player there. It's so funny.

“I would love it to be shorter, I would like to finish the transfer window before the season but it is what it is.”

Following Super Cup victory on Wednesday, the City squad didn’t train on the pitch in fear of picking up more injury problems, instead spending time in the pool and gym, with Kevin De Bruyne, John Stones and Bernardo Silva all facing time on the sidelines early on in the season.

De Bruyne’s injury is expected to keep him sidelined for up to four months, and the proposed £70m move for West Ham’s Lucas Paqueta has broken down amid the Brazilian under investigation for gambling breaches.

Guardiola continued: 'We are talking a lot with (sporting director) Txiki (Begiristain) about what we have to do. The blow from Kevin changes the perspective. He is a very important player and it is not one or two weeks.

“When we go to the market, it is not to replace him as he will be back in January or February and will be with us next season.”

City take on Newcastle United in the 8pm kick off on Saturday, and the boss has called out to fans to come and support the Treble winners in a tough test against Eddie Howe’s men, Guardiola said: “We're not at our best, or our top. We need time.

“It's normal and we adjusted a few things but the spirit is there. Tomorrow we need the Etihad Stadium full. Stay with us please, we are not in our best moment. Stay there in the bad moments.”

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