Article by Alexandru Tomuțiu – published on Friday, September 19, 2025 7:03 pm / Updated on Friday, September 19, 2025 7:32
Pep Guardiola (54 years old), Manchester City's coach, is always caustic when it comes to the amounts spent by clubs, “citizens” being accused for years of having an incorrect advantage over the other rivals, due to the funds from Saudi Arabia.
Prior to the match in the 6th stage of the Premier League, with Arsenal (Sunday, 6:30 pm), Guardiola spoke about the major investments made by Arsenal during the summer, which included the Swedish Viktor Gyokeres, transferred from Sporting, and did not resist not adding an irony.
Pepe Guardiola, ironic with Mikel Arteta: “I just want to tell him this”
“That's right. They decided to do this at Arsenal. I just want to tell my friend Mikel Artteta that if he wins the title he will be just because he spent money, not because he worked hard or because of his players,” he started, ironically.
Then the Spanish continued: “It's like Liverpool. If ARNE will win again, it will be because he has spent a lot of money, right? Because not just Man City has done this, don't you? Listen, for many years, every club can do what he wants.
I know that the way they were treated is completely different, but they spend because they want and it's okay. All I can say is that they were intelligent. They have spent what I think they can compete against the best teams in the Premier League and in Europe, and have already reached this level.
Pep Guardiola and Mikel Artteta / Photo: Imago
Step by step, Arsenal improves. Last season in Europe, they took an incredible step before and, for me, I am the most solid team, I do not make mistakes in defense. It's good in all compartments. Each team is better and I know the quality that everyone has. “
The coach also spoke about Rodri and about the number of matches he will be able to support after the knee operation – the Spaniard came out in the 60th minute of the match with Naples on Thursday.
“It's a good question. I still don't know. It was very intelligent, I know the result was not yet set, 1-0 is always a tight score, but it didn't feel good. Whenever I tried to talk to him, I asked him to resist, but I felt that it was not comfortable and that was better.
We will see everyday, but he is trying to be prepared for matches. And with him on the field we feel more comfortable. But, of course, after an injury you have to be careful and we will decide on Sunday as it will play. ”
