Roberto Mancini hits back at Sir Alex Ferguson's comments about Manchester City's summer transfer spree
The 'war of the words' in the Premier League is often either between Manchester United and Arsenal or Manchester United and Chelsea managers at the start of season. After all, those are the three actual title contenders in the league in general. This time around, though, United manager Sir Alex Ferguson finds himself entangled in a war of words with his city rival Roberto Mancini. Two days ago, Sir Alex Ferguson had made some rather 'suggestive' comments without taking any club's name. He had said that clubs that are spending insane amount of money (hint, hint) in the summer transfer window are on a 'kamikaze mission' and are disrupting and inflating the transfer market. He said that these teams have to realize that money is not a quick fix; there is a long process through which a winning team is made.
Manchester City’s manager Roberto Mancini has decided to hit back at Ferguson and said that the comments made by Ferguson are hypocritical. Mancini said that it is not fair for a man like him to say things such as this; he added that Ferguson himself has been spending lavishly over the last few years. He pointed out the buy of Cristiano Ronaldo, (however Mancini was a bit ill-informed, as Ronaldo was brought in when he was a teenager, when practically no one knew about him, and the price was a mere bargain). However, Mancini went on to make his point and said that if a club has the money and knows that a certain player will benefit the club, why then should the club not spend the money.
The latest signing of Manchester City, James Milner, takes their total spending this season up to 130 million pounds; compared to that, Manchester United have only spent 24 million this season.
Roberto Mancini went on to say that not just United but other clubs have also been doing the same. He said that he was not even talking about transfer markets from more than a decade ago, but just a couple of years back. He said that Chelsea also spent an insane amount of money when Roman Abramovich took over, and look at them now. The former Inter Milan man said that money does not guarantee success, but it certainly helps. Mancini said that spending can be done by anyone, but to spend the money on the right players is the key. He said that he is convinced that the players he brought in this season would benefit the team a lot.
Mancini said that he respects Sir Alex a lot, and his word hold great value to him. However, he said that this does not change the fact that Ferguson, in the past, has also spent millions to build the team he has now.
Roberto Mancini insisted that while success in the Champions League is essential to the club, the domestic front is also of great significance to the team and him personally. He said that the players he has brought in this year would help the team do well at home and Europe, and he has no doubts that there is enough depth in his squad.
When asked about a question regarding his team's next match in the Europa League qualifier against Timisoara, Mancini said that it is a very crucial game for them. “We know it will be difficult to get through this tie, but this is a big competition for the club. I don’t know if we’re favourites. In the first game it’s always difficult. Timisoara have already played two Europa League games and four games in their league, but we have only played one game in the Premier League.
“We’re involved in four competitions and it’s important we try to win every game we play. We can’t think we can play well in one competition and not in another. We can’t do that if we want to change our mentality,” he said.
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