Benitez: Arab riches not enough to buy title
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Arab riches not enough to buy title, says Rafael Benitez
Manchester City’s new Arab owners have sent shock waves through the football world since taking over the club a month ago, but Rafael Benítez, the Liverpool manager, has warned them that they may be underestimating the size of their mission to build a team capable of winning the Barclays Premier League.
“I do not know when they can become genuine title contenders,” the Spaniard said, aware that it has taken four years to turn his team into challengers. “They are a good team with good players and a good manager [Mark Hughes], so they can be top of the table, but there are other teams that have spent big money, like Aston Villa. But you must realise how hard the Premier League is to win. Every year you hear about possible challenges from Aston Villa, Newcastle, West Ham. Now it is City. We shall see.
“It’s not easy to improve a squad. Chelsea were spending money for years before they could win the title. You also have to take into consideration the level of the other teams. Chelsea, Manchester United and Arsenal have all been spending big money on players for a long time.”
Chelsea supporters would point out that their club won the title in 2005, less than two years after Roman Abramovich bought the club, but the league appears even more competitive now. Where Chelsea were building on firm foundations, City finished a distant ninth in the league last season.
“It’s a big, big ask for us [to finish in the top four],” Hughes said. “There are good sides who reside there at the moment. Hughes is eager to sign players with Premier League experience when the January transfer window opens, rather than simply plundering the biggest names, but Benítez has told City to forget the idea of trying to sign his captain. “Gerrard is playing well and if we are improving he will be very, very happy here,” Benítez said.
“The key is that he wants to stay here. That is the most important thing. It is not a question of money.”
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he underestimated the power of money and Arab.......
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God can help you 99%. Money another .5%. The other .5% depends on your players and manager.
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sour grapes.
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his face look like shit. before roman come. chelsea was 4th in the league. after roman come, 2nd in EPL, semi final in CL. 2nd year. win epl & carling cup, semi final in CL beat the in form barcelona.
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the first step they need to take is replace mark hughes with someone with a proven track record.
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it has proven at chelsea that money can indeed by title.
When Man utd spent over 60million a season they can win title.
this season i think man utd cannot win title, because they dont spent enough, berbatov only 30million pound.