Wenger: Arsenal can't compete in market with Chelsea
tribalfootball.com - January 31, 2006
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger admits competing with Chelsea in the
transfer market is difficult.
Wenger said: "When I contact a club and say, 'Listen I am
interested in your player', you all know what answer I get. 'Thank
you very much, Chelsea is on the case as well'. It is like that
everywhere - even in South America.
"I tell them, 'First try to sell him to Chelsea, and then call me
back'."
Despite having to work within much more restrictive financial
boundaries than their London neighbours, Arsenal have, in previous
seasons at least, been able to retain a high level of success and
will move to a new 60,000-seater stadium later this year.
Wenger reflected: "I felt always Arsenal are a massive club, but of
course you have to balance the budget and live with your natural
resources because there is no other income.
"We are very proud for having achieved success and to build a new
stadium, and a new training ground."
Wenger added: "I learned when I was very young that when you make
10, you spend a maximum of 10. It all looked very logical to
me.
"But not everybody can do that because some earn 10, and they spend
20."
Man Utd boss Ferguson: We can't
compete with Chelsea spending
Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson admits the club can't
compete with Chelsea in the transfer market.
Ferguson said that United could not match Chelsea owner Roman
Abramovich's spending and were having to cut the size of their
squad because of the high salaries of modern players.
Talking of trying to matching Abramovich, he told the New Yorker,
"I don't think we can afford that, to be honest with you."
As for the effect of high salaries on squad sizes he said: "We are
working with a squad of about 19 or 20 players. In the past it was
a bit bigger but keeping up with a squad of more than 19 or 20
happy financially is very difficult. They are all on terrific
salaries, so you try not to carry surplus players."
