Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has pointed out Arsenal‘s big spending in recent years in his latest dig at Arsene Wenger, reports The Sun.
The Portuguese is known for attempting mind games with his opponents [Daily Mail], and it looks like he is starting them again for the coming season. The Gunners are being touted as potential challengers for the Blues’ Premier League title [Daily Star], and this statement could be seen as confirmation that Mourinho is concerned about them beating them to the championship.
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Over the last four years, the North Londoners have a net spend of £88.75 million, while the Stamford Bridge outfit have spent a relatively small £74.8 million [The Sun]. However, the Blues’ total is helped by the high fees Romelu Lukaku and Kevin De Bruyne left the club for, even though neither ever played a large part in their first team during their time at Stamford Bridge. Arsenal have not been able to make as much money from players who aren’t involved in the starting XI.
“If you add up the amounts clubs have spent in the last three or four years, I think maybe you will find a surprise,” said the Blues boss.
“If you put Ozil plus Alexis Sanchez, plus Chambers, plus Debuchy you will maybe find a surprise.”
However, he did give his opposite number some credit: “They have bought a fantastic keeper — and that is a position which is very important in a team. It’s a fantastic squad with good players, fantastic keeper, they are more than ready to be a title contenders.
“We have five teams Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester United, Liverpool and Manchester City who will play for the title. Only one will win and one will be playing Europa League next season. That is the reality.”
Arsene Wenger has loosened the purse strings in recent years, as demonstrated by the arrivals of Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez. Despite these two high-profile acquisitions, he has still been unable to beat Mourinho in a head-to-head match, and that could be vital in the title race this campaign.
This isn’t the first time that Mourinho has criticised Wenger, with the former Real Madrid boss calling his counterpart a ‘voyeur’ [BBC], and a ‘specialist in failure’ [BBC] in the past.