Ferguson: Money won't guarantee City success
Sir Alex Ferguson not worried about the money being spent at Man City
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Thursday, 25, Sep 2008 10:54
Sir Alex Ferguson has warned newly-rich Manchester City that money will not guarantee success at Eastlands.
City fans are on a high after the club was bought by the Abu Dhabi United Group, which has made the Premier League side the richest club in the world. They spent a British record £32.5 million on Brazilian superstar Robinho and more big names are expected to arrive in January.
Pundits are predicting that with all their wealth, City may finally be able to step out of the large shadow cast by their bitter rivals Manchester United. But United manager Ferguson insists City will find it difficult to attract the best players in the world as large sums of money doesn't always guarantee you will get a player.
"It's all very well having all the money but you can't buy everyone. It was proved in the summer," Ferguson told the official United club magazine. "We didn't want to sell Ronaldo, other clubs don't want to sell their best players, and there are only so many players you can buy.
"Back in the 1950s Sunderland were called 'The Bank of England Team' - and they got relegated. There are no guarantees. You can buy 11 individuals - you can buy 11 Robinhos but it wouldn't be a team would it?
"The art of management is building a team with balance, with certain characteristics that blend with each other - that's the most important thing."
Ferguson has spent 21 years at United winning ten league titles and two European Cups. One of his greatest strengths has been building new teams after a group of his players have peaked or moved away from United.