Khaldoon Al Mubarak, the chairman of Manchester City, has denied claims that the treble winners bought their way to success.
City won the Premier League, Champions League, and FA Cup in a successful season for Pep Guardiola’s team, but the triumph came with 115 charges brought against them by the Premier League earlier this year for alleged violations of the League’s profit and sustainability regulations over a more than ten-year period.
Keeping up with City has been one of the biggest challenges for Liverpool and their owners Fenway Sports Group in recent years, with the Reds’ own success and ability to generate bigger revenues still outstripped by the Manchester side, which has been owned by Sheikh Mansour and the City Football Group since 2008.
Al Mubarak was questioned about the accusations made against the club while speaking to the club’s official YouTube channel. A legal process has now started, which is expected to take years rather than months.
The City chairman explained that he was unable to discuss them due to legal restrictions. “We are going through the legal processes, which will take as long as they do, and when we are finished, I’ll give you my very frank opinions. Even though I have strong opinions, I will exercise restraint.
“It is extremely frustrating because it detracts so much from the great work that is being done at this club, which is happening in areas other than the football field.
“The treble that these players have accomplished is incredible. I’d prefer that people concentrate on their football and what they are accomplishing on the field and in every competition they are participating in.
The situation is as it is.”
Al Mubarak also responded to claims that the club has spent its way to success, declaring that the Citizens have evolved into a ‘commercial machine’ and that they are spending significantly less than their rivals when it comes to net spending in the transfer market. With a net spending total of £204 million over the past five years, City is ranked eighth in the Premier League, behind Aston Villa, Newcastle United, West Ham United, Tottenham Hotspur, Arsenal, Manchester United, and Chelsea. At £158.4 million, Liverpool ranks eleventh on the list.
Al Mubarak added: “The club is generally well run, this group is now worth more than $6 billion. We have added enormous value and recruited renowned investors. The reason is that we have a commercial machine here that is among the best in the world. The best teams in the world are constantly aiming for our executives.
“We should take credit for that, by the way. We are producing the best executives, scouts, and coaches in the world in addition to the best players on the field, in academies, and in the group.
“We are the top football brand in the entire world. This is the reality. The club makes a ton of money in sales. Take a look at what our academy and first team produce. Take a look at last year and our net spending. I could continue talking to you about net spending statistics for the past year, three years, five years, or ten years for another thirty minutes. Look at each and every one of them.
“Compare us to our competitors using these facts. People constantly say that we spend the most money and have the biggest team, but I wish they would just ask the question, find out the information, and then make a comment.
“The journey continues, and there is so much more for us to accomplish.”
