Pep Guardiola says he is bothered by claims made by Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp that Manchester City can spend what they want on transfers.
City will face Liverpool in Sunday’s Community Shield at Wembley and a bit of extra spice has been added to the occasion following Klopp’s comments last week that his side have less money to spend this summer because they “have bills to pay” and they do not live in a “fantasia land where you get whatever you want”, like City.
Those comments have not sat well with Guardiola, who has defended City’s transfer policy by insisting they, like other clubs, cannot spend big during every transfer window. “Yeah it (Klopp’s comments) bothers me because it is not true that we have spent £200m every transfer market,” Guardiola told reporters. “Of course I don’t like it because it’s not true.
Last season we spent [net] £17m on just one player. “Two seasons ago when I spent a lot, it’s because I took over the team with 10 or 11 players over the age of 30 – you have to [replace them]. “But we can’t spend £200m every season.
For example, Liverpool spent over £200m last season, and they can’t do it this season. For us it is the same.” Guardiola did confirm that City are still active in the transfer market and he is expecting both incomings and outgoings at the Etihad Stadium over the coming days.
When asked how much business he was intending to do between now and the close of the transfer window, Guardiola revealed: “A few in and out.”
