The Premier League champions did not spend on a centre-back in summer transfer window to replace the departed club former captain, Vincent Kompany.
Despite spending huge £130m in transfer window, Pep says that they couldn’t afford to buy a replacement at centre-back position.
In the opening games of Premier league, Aymeric Laporte was holding the discussed position but in the last game against Brighton he suffered a knee injury, stressing up the work load for Pep to find a sensible centre-back. Besides John Stones is also suffering from injury and is expected to arrive after the international break.
Fernandinho was sent in to hold the centre-back position against Brighton, although being a midfielder.
The veteran Kompany left the club after lifting the Premier League trophy last season and joined Anderlecht to become the player/manager.
Since then, for centre-back position, Harry Maguire was the hot-pick player but the Spaniard told that Manchester in Blues couldn’t afford to purchase him or any other qualitative player due to opponents spiking prices.
“We could not buy like our opponents or what teams offered us or asked of us for these players,” the former Barcelona and Bayern Munich manager told the press.
In a couple of years, City have spent huge amounts to enrich their squad. City spent around £130m in acquiring defensive players like Rodri, Joao Cancelo and Angelino but none plays as a centre-back.
“Of course, we spent a lot two seasons ago, but last season one player, this season a little bit more so we could not pay the money wanted.
“But we have an alternative and sometimes when that happens the team unites better and we are going to find solutions to that.
“The club works incredibly well in all departments and sometimes we cannot afford it like other teams afford it and that is all.”
“We pay a lot of money for a lot of players, that is why we have a depth of squad with huge quality, be we cannot [sign a central defender],” he went on.
Optimism was vivid in Pep throughout his interview. He adjusts to the given situations and whatever be the circumstances.
“The club tell me you have a limit, you cannot go forward. Maybe in the future, but not now, you cannot do it.
“I say OK, you cannot do it so we cannot do it so we are going with what we have.”
