THE CHELSEA manager, Guus Hiddink, has admitted he is uncomfortable with the spending power of Manchester City. Mark Hughes’s side, who visit Stamford Bridge tomorrow, attempted to sign the Milan playmaker Kaka for €98 million during the January transfer window.
Hiddink, whose current employers have spent heavily under Roman Abramovich but have been usurped as the world’s richest club by City, suggested the boundaries are blurred between what could be considered “amoral” and acceptable in terms of a fee for a single player. Yet the Dutchman warned City’s Arab owners, Abu Dhabi United Group, that money would not guarantee them passage into the elite group of clubs who consistently challenge for the Premier League title.
Chelsea’s outlay under Abramovich has been vast, though their record fee remains the €33 million paid for Andriy Shevchenko in 2006. Asked whether he felt comfortable that City were prepared to spend three times that amount on Kaka, Hiddink said: “I cannot see the relation between such a sum of money and performances on the pitch. I cannot see it. Perhaps I’m rather ‘amateur’ in this. It becomes a philosophical question: is a player worth £1 or £100 million to perform? Is it worth spending that kind of money on someone to perform? Some people might think so.
“It is down to a club’s owners whether they think it’s responsible to invest that kind of money. There are boundaries between what is moral and amoral. But is it £10 million or £100 million? It is difficult to come out and say whether it is amoral to spend £100 million, but that £50 million is moral. City have the possibility to do a lot, but it’s not always a matter of money to make a team. You have to be really smart about who you bring in. And players must ask themselves: ‘Am I going there to play, or is my motivation just to have a beautiful contract that will set me up for the rest of my life’?”
Two England internationals expected to be in the visitors’ starting line-up at Stamford Bridge, Wayne Bridge and Shaun Wright-Phillips, endured only bit-part roles while with Chelsea after big-money moves and have since swapped the bench in west London for regular first-team football at Eastlands. These clubs have tangled in the transfer market recently, with the Brazil forward Robinho snatched from Chelsea’s grasp by City at the last moment in the summer and with interest retained at Eastlands in the Londoners’ captain, John Terry.
Robinho stressed yesterday that City boast the potential to emulate Chelsea’s achievements. “We are a very ambitious club and many people underestimate us,” he said. “We may not be the biggest club yet, but let’s not forget what Chelsea was four years ago. We can do as well as they’ve been doing in recent years.”
Hiddink did not entirely disagree. “Nothing is impossible in this country, especially when you have [financial] power, but the clubs who have a history over a long time of fighting for championships have the advantage and the experience of being on top,” said Chelsea’s manager. “It’s not easy to come between those clubs, who are very well managed.
“As for John Terry, he made a very clear statement [reaffirming his commitment last month] that he is a Chelsea man and wants to stay a Chelsea man. The club has made it very clear that they want to continue ‘for ever’ with John. There are players, like John, who are brought up within a club and I can imagine John Terry will stay here until the end of his career. It’s about more than money. He understands the culture of the club, and he has a history with the club.”
Hiddink is learning that culture and admitted publicly yesterday that he will find it hard to leave Stamford Bridge when his short-term deal expires on May 30th, particularly if Chelsea secure silverware in the interim. “That would make it harder,” he added. “I’m human and it will be difficult. You get to know all the players as individuals, and I’d have to say goodbye. But I don’t get too sentimental and we’ve made our statement on what happens in May.”
Meanwhile, David Moyes marks his seventh anniversary as Everton manager today adamant that he would have restored the club among the English elite but for a lack of finances at Goodison Park.
“If this was going back in years gone by and the money was equal I would see Everton as one of the top clubs,” said Moyes, who celebrates his seven years in charge at home to Stoke City today.
“The difference why Everton are not one of the top clubs at this moment in time is more to do with finance than the team or the manager. I have got to hope we can get it right back where it has been in the past.
Guardian Service
