Guardiola: Madrid are signing good players, but only Man City spend money

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Real Madrid have already signed several players as they look to strengthen their squad ahead of next season, with Manchester City coach Pep Guardiola ironically pointing out that his club are considered to be the big spenders of European football.

Los Blancos have acquired the services of Rodrygo Goes, Eder Militao, Luka Jovic and Eden Hazard, and the former Barcelona tactician has praised the latter’s quality.

“Real Madrid are signing good players, but only Manchester City spend money here,” Guardiola said during the Costa Brava Legends Trophy.

“The one who they signed from Chelsea [Eden Hazard] is very good.

“He is an impressive player and one of the best I’ve seen.

“Spanish football has signed a player with whom you are going to have a lot of fun.”

Guardiola hasn’t won the Champions League since his spell at the Blaugrana and he has explained why winning the league is always a priority for his teams.

“There are very good teams [in the Champions League] and others who deserve to win it,” he added.

“[However,] the league is the most important, first, because it makes you happier.

“When it goes bad, it’s very tough, but if you lose in the Champions League, it’s only two days.

“That’s why the league is funnier and more beautiful.

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“We all want to win the Champions League because it’s the most beautiful thing.

“The important thing is to try again and in our case we will do it again.

“If we fail, we will try again, as the important thing is to be there until the end.”

Ernesto Valverde has been criticised for failing to win the major European competition, but Guardiola believes that the Catalan side should be praised for having clinched LaLiga Santander.

“The coaches are not here to say if we deserve it or not,” he noted.

“When they say that we were good or bad, it’s good or bad.

“There are great demands at Barcelona and if you don’t win all the trophies it seems that it’s not fine.

“They won the league the way they won it due to the tough competition from Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid, Valencia, Real Betis and with a great season from Getafe.

“They won the league and reached the Copa del Rey final and the Champions League semi-finals.

“As a coach, from my point of view, they had a good season.”

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