Pep Guardiola joked he was 'grumpy' with Manchester City bosses for not spending more, as he pointed out six Premier League clubs, including Liverpool and Manchester United, have higher net spend
Pep Guardiola
Pep Guardiola has spoken out about City's spending(Image: Naomi Baker - UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images)
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Pep Guardiola quipped that he was irritated with his Manchester City hierarchy for not investing more in the transfer window, taking aim at their reputation for spending.
City secured Antoine Semenyo and Marc Guehi in January to bring their outlay over the past 12 months to £430million. But Guardiola has pointed out his club are still not among the most extravagant spenders.
They have also recouped hundreds of millions through departures over the previous five years. Six clubs - including their Carabao Cup semi-final opponents Newcastle - boast a higher net spend than City.
Having repeatedly challenged the unjust perception that surrounds the club with their achievements being attributed to finances, Guardiola couldn't resist highlighting that the expectation and burden should now rest with the six sides that have invested more than them: United, Arsenal, Chelsea, Spurs, Newcastle, and Liverpool.
"I'm a little bit sad and upset because, in net spend, the last five years we are 7th 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," he said.
"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?".
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - JANUARY 28: Pep Guardiola, Manager of Manchester City portrait before the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD8 match between Manchester City and Galatasaray A.S. at City of Manchester Stadium on January 28, 2026 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Nigel French/Sportsphoto/Allstar via Getty Images)
Pep Guardiola put forward his transfer argument(Image: Nigel French/Allstar, Getty Images)
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City hold a 2-0 advantage over Newcastle heading into the second leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final and will be hoping to secure another trip to Wembley.
"This is the point of today and tomorrow. We have a chance to make our fifth final in ten years in the Carabao Cup.
"Of course a good result, 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," he said.
"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."