Guardiola defends Manchester City's big spending

According to the British media reports, City have spent over 200 million pounds ($259.62 million) on full-backs Benjamin Mendy, Kyle Walker and Danilo, goalkeeper Ederson and midfielder Bernardo Silva.

Guardiola defends Manchester City's big spending

(Reuters)





The Spanish manager believes the signings were needed to freshen up an ageing squad ahead of the new season.

"Hopefully next season I will be here and we will not spend how we spent this season,” Guardiola told reporters ahead of City's Premier League opener at Brighton on Saturday.

"The last six or seven years Manchester City didn't buy full backs. We bought three and the market is so demanding not just for Manchester City.

"We needed to do that this summer because we have one of the oldest teams in Europe. The group of players are going to stay here for a long time. Players here now are so young and will stay for the future."

Guardiola confirmed Mendy and midfielder Ilkay Gundogan are recovering well but neither would be available for selection for City's weekend clash at the Amex Stadium.

He expected Brighton to pose a threat on their return to top-flight of English football for the first time in 34 years.

"My experience of being a manager, always the beginning of the season the new ones are the toughest ones," Guardiola added.

"The teams that arrive, in the first four, five, six games they are so complicated. But we try to win the game."

Guardiola, a former Barcelona and Bayern Munich manager, has yet to win a trophy since taking charge of City at the start of last season.





(Reporting by Hardik Vyas in Bengaluru; Editing by Richard Balmforth)


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