Manchester City
Guardiola challenges six higher spenders after City rank seventh in net transfers
Guardiola said City are seventh in net spend and challenged six higher spenders to deliver trophies.
Pep Guardiola used figures spanning the last five seasons to push back against the idea Manchester City’s January spending alone makes them automatic favourites. He pointed out that City sit seventh for net transfer spend among Premier League clubs since the start of 2021–22.
Transfermarkt data in the period shows Manchester United top the list with a net spend of £675 million (season average £135 million), followed by Arsenal (£663.7 million, £132.7 million), Chelsea (£651 million, £130.2 million), Tottenham Hotspur (£574.1 million, £114.8 million), Newcastle United (£424.5 million, £84.9 million) and Liverpool (£420.6 million, £84.1 million). Manchester City are listed at £396.2 million (£79.2 million). Only Brighton & Hove Albion recorded a net profit of £2.38 million.
Guardiola framed that table as a challenge to the clubs above City. “Like we won in the past because we spent a lot, now six teams have to win the Premier Leagues, Champions Leagues and FA Cups because they spend more in the last five years,” he stated. “These are facts. It’s not an opinion. Good luck to the six teams who are in front of us for net spend for the last five years. Let’s go. I’m waiting.”
City completed January with two signings, Antoine Semenyo and Marc Guéhi, at a combined cost of £84 million. Spending across the last three windows dating back to January 2025 totals £442.9 million. Guardiola acknowledged that sales such as Julián Alvarez to Atlético Madrid and regular returns from academy graduates have also brought money back into the club.
“I’m a little bit sad and upset because in net spend the last five years, we are seventh in the Premier League. I want to be the first, I don’t understand why the club don’t spend more money. I am a little bit grumpy with them,” Guardiola told assembled media on Tuesday.
There has been change higher up as Hugo Viana replaced Txiki Begiristain as sporting director, and City have seen a steady stream of veteran departures since 2020, including David Silva, Nicolás Otamendi, Sergio Agüero, Raheem Sterling, İlkay Gündoğan (twice), Riyad Mahrez, Aymeric Laporte, Ederson and Kevin De Bruyne. Bernardo Silva, after nine years and 14 major trophies, is mentioned as a possible next exit. City also face an ongoing period of transition that could include Guardiola himself leaving at the end of this season.
Data via Transfermarkt.
Manchester City
Haaland’s availability unclear after Leeds omission ahead of Forest visit
Haaland was left out at Leeds and watched Semenyo’s winner; Guardiola gave no clear answer. Fans ask
A flat showing away at Leeds underlined why supporters have been keen to see Erling Haaland back in the Manchester City front line. Haaland was left out for the trip to Elland Road and watched from the sidelines as Antoine Semenyo netted the only goal of an uncomfortable 1–0 victory.
Nottingham Forest arrive on Wednesday and the central question among fans is simple: will Haaland play? His fitness and selection look set to dominate Pep Guardiola’s pre-match press conference on Tuesday. Until then, the manager’s remarks after the Leeds game are the clearest public indication of the striker’s status.
Asked specifically whether Haaland would be back in time to face Forest, Guardiola’s response on Saturday gave nothing away. “I don’t have any answer right now,” he insisted. “We have four days before Nottingham Forest and after, three days to the FA Cup at Newcastle.” He did, however, offer some reassurance by describing the problem as “not a big issue.”
Guardiola’s approach to covering for Haaland against Leeds surprised some supporters. Omar Marmoush was used as part of the attacking setup. The expensive Egyptian is the only other natural striker in the squad and has been waiting for opportunities in attack, having been forced into accepting the same midfield role occupied by his predecessor, Julián Alvarez, as it quickly became clear there is no displacing a healthy Haaland in the squad.
With minutes and results both at a premium, City must balance the immediate need to secure points with the management of Haaland’s condition across a busy schedule. Guardiola’s comments leave room for optimism, but they also mean definitive confirmation of Haaland’s involvement will have to wait until closer to kick-off.
Arsenal
Guardiola Calls for Champions League Rule Change After City Draw Madrid Again
Guardiola urges rule change after Manchester City again draw Real Madrid in Champions League last 16
Pep Guardiola has urged UEFA to revisit Champions League knockout rules after Manchester City were paired with Real Madrid in the round of 16. City have now drawn Madrid again weeks after their most recent meeting, a 2–1 league victory in December.
Guardiola said he wants to prevent early repeat fixtures that can come from teams who already met in the competition’s opening phase. “Yes, it is a little bit weird [to face Madrid again],” he said.
The manager pointed to the timing of the group stage finish as part of the issue, noting that the last game of the group stage—Real Madrid vs. Benfica—became the first draw. He argued that the current sequence made the outcome appear unusual and suggested UEFA should consider changes to stop teams who met in the first stage from meeting early in the knockouts.
City face a daunting path through the knockout stages. Their portion of the bracket includes Bayern Munich, Liverpool, Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain, Galatasaray and Atalanta alongside Real Madrid, making the route to the final especially demanding on paper.
Arsenal avoided that side of the draw and were paired with Bayer Leverkusen for the next round. Mikel Arteta’s team would face Bodø/Glimt or Sporting CP in the quarterfinals, with one of Barcelona, Newcastle United, Atlético Madrid or Tottenham Hotspur waiting in the semifinals.
Despite the apparent imbalance, Guardiola dismissed the notion that Arsenal have an easier route. “ [It] would be so disrespectful [to], for example, Newcastle, Barcelona, top teams, Atlético Madrid or Spurs,” he said. “So I’m not a fan of that [saying it’s the easier half of the draw].”
Arsenal
March fixture changes loom as Premier League flags uncertainty over Arsenal and Manchester City schedules
The Premier League warns March fixtures for Arsenal and Manchester City may be moved at short notice
The Premier League has warned supporters that matches involving Arsenal and Manchester City in March may need to be moved again after UEFA declined to provide firm scheduling for the Champions League knockout stage. The top flight told fans on Tuesday that these two fixtures “are subject to change.”
UEFA are not compelled to announce any dates or times for their matches until after Friday’s draw, but the Premier League added: “Unfortunately, UEFA has not been able to provide any guarantees on its scheduling ahead of the draw. As a result, the Premier League now faces the possibility of re-scheduling its fixtures at even shorter notice, at the inconvenience of supporters and clubs. The Premier League will continue its regular dialogue with UEFA over fixture scheduling.”
Calendar adjustments are already being mapped. BBC Sport’s Dale Johnson has reported that Arsenal’s home match with Everton looks set to move from Sunday, March 15 to Saturday, March 14. That stems from Liverpool hosting Tottenham on Sunday, March 15, a fixture described as the marquee game of the weekend which cannot be moved. Liverpool and Spurs are therefore expected to play their Champions League second legs on Wednesday, March 18, which forces Arsenal’s European second leg onto Tuesday, March 17 and the Everton game onto Saturday, March 14.
Manchester City face a similar timing squeeze. City can play West Ham at lunchtime on Saturday, March 14 only if their Champions League first leg is placed on Tuesday, March 10. If UEFA puts City in the Wednesday slot broadcasters will seek an even split of Premier League teams across both midweek dates and City’s trip to West Ham would likely be shifted to the evening 8 p.m. window.
Pep Guardiola has previously complained about congested continental schedules: “Always they put the toughest schedules for the European teams in the important stages,” and “I’m not complaining because we had incredible success dealing with this calendar.” He also said: “The broadcasters decide. There are leagues that play on the Friday before the Champions League. They don’t ask me when it’s better to play to have one more day. It has always been like that. It’s no surprise when I see the calendar. It is what it is. Here, the Premier League is much more important than the other competitions.”
Fixture notes reproduced from published schedules show Arsenal and City with FA Cup and predicted Champions League dates before the rearranged league ties in mid-March.
