As actual Man City expenditure numbers relative to Liverpool surface, Pep Guardiola is unable to acknowledge the truth.
The recurring theme of dominance by Manchester City has finally resulted in the long-awaited Champions League victory last year under Guardiola’s management. However, this dominance has not been achieved without considerable expense or controversy. The club faces 115 charges of breaching Premier League financial regulations over a decade, which they adamantly refute. An independent commission will decide on potential consequences later this year.
In a recent media interaction, Guardiola addressed the notion of boredom in pursuing Premier League success, circling back to the topic of finances, often associated with the club. He argued that success is not simply about money, citing examples where other financially backed clubs haven’t dominated as expected. He pointed out that despite similar financial investments, Manchester United, Chelsea, and Arsenal haven’t consistently claimed titles, suggesting that other factors are at play.
Certainly, City’s expenditure over the last five years amounts to £433 million, ranking seventh in the Premier League behind Newcastle United, Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester United, Arsenal, and Chelsea. Chelsea leads this spending with £831 million, attributed largely to recent investments by new owners. Liverpool holds the ninth position with a net spend of £335 million, but over the past six years, Liverpool surpasses City with £498 million in net spending, as per data from football finance analyst Swiss Ramble.
However, a deeper analysis reveals City’s sustained heavy investment over time, which has laid the groundwork for assembling a formidable squad. From 2015 to 2021, Guardiola’s tenure witnessed a net spend of £656 million, the highest in the Premier League.
Moreover, the disparity in wages is notable. City has committed £1.8 billion to salaries over the past five years, topping the Premier League. Liverpool follows closely with £1.69 billion during that period, trailing by £110 million. Manchester United, Chelsea, and Arsenal complete the top five in terms of wage expenditure, as expected.
City, possessing the world’s most valuable squad based on current market estimations by analysts at Football Benchmark, have also surpassed all others in intermediary fees spending over the past five years, totaling £206 million. In comparison, Liverpool’s expenditure stands at £139 million during the same period, £67 million less.
Guardiola’s achievement in elevating City’s squad to such heights commands respect; he ranks among the world’s premier coaches, as evidenced by his impressive resume. However, this success hasn’t occurred without significant financial backing, regardless of whether he acknowledges it. The groundwork was laid earlier, enabling the team to operate smoothly without major overhauls annually, and to acquire top talents like Erling Haaland when necessary.
Klopp departs Liverpool as a legend, yet it’s undeniable that his tenure could have yielded even more trophies had the competitive landscape been more balanced. Such parity would likely have benefitted the Premier League’s global appeal as well.