Cech warns the Citizens that spending big does not guarantee success.
Manchester City have been sent a warning by Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech that simply spending huge fees on new players cannot buy success and titles.
City have spent over £100m on new faces this summer, including the £30m fee paid to Shakhtar Donetsk for midfielder Fernandinho.
However, Cech insists that just purchasing stars does not mean trophies will automatically be won.
“Money has never won anything. You can spend as much as you want but you must build a team first,” the 31-year-old told the Sun.
“If they build a team they will be a tough opponent and rival for us in the Champions League and for the Premier League title. But so will Manchester United.
“So will Arsenal, Tottenham and Liverpool.
“Tottenham were on the edge of going into the Champions League, they’ll want to keep their challenge up. Manchester United are the champions.
“And Manchester City have spent money to challenge. That’s the reality of the situation.”
It seems a little rich that Cech, a £7m purchase during the Roman Abramovich era at Stamford Bridge, is stating money can’t buy success.
The Blues had not won a Premier League title until the Russian billionaire bought the west London club in 2003, spending over £800m in a decade and the side winning three league titles, four FA Cups, the Champions League and the Europa League in that time.
Cech himself had a relatively low price-tag when the ‘keeper transferred in 2004, but the club have also spent £50m on Fernando Torres and £30.8m on Andriy Shevchenko in the past 10 years.
New City manager Manuel Pellegrini will be hoping that the Blues star is wrong as the Chilean prepares for his first season in charge at the Etihad Stadium, with the 2012 English champions expecting immediate success.
COMMENTS