Jamie Carragher says the likes of Antonio Conte’s Tottenham Hotspur and Unai Emery’s Aston Villa feel that the only way they can get back to the top is by ‘spending money’ like Todd Boehly’s Chelsea, as he told The Overlap.
The former defender added that he ‘can’t believe’ the length of contracts Chelsea and owner Boehly have handed out to their new signings and how no-one has thought about it before.
Whilst Chelsea have the less-proven Graham Potter in the dugout, Villa have the trophy-laden Emery, who has had great success in Europe, whilst Spurs have the title-winning, Conte.
Both are tasked with winning trophies at the respective clubs and ensuring they finish in Europe.
Now, in terms of Europe, those in north London are far more established than the Midlands outfit, perhaps less so on the trophy front.
Either way, Chelsea’s spending has made the headlines during these past two windows, and will continue to do so, as Carragher referenced the likes of Spurs and Villa when sharing his thoughts.
“Not yet (made Chelsea better after their heavy spending) when you look where they are in the league,” said Carragher.
“Just because you spend money, it’s no guarantee of what you are going to do, so Manchester City have spent a lot of money, but they have had great expertise. Even Manchester United are an example of that on the other side.
“I have no problem with different teams getting involved. I think it’s sad when clubs here, even like a Tottenham, who are classed as the top six. Everton, Aston Villa and West Ham, who have had great success in the past.
“The only way they can feel like they can get back up there is by spending big money. If Todd Boehly and Chelsea have found a way around the rules, in terms of not breaking them. Putting players on eight and nine-year contracts. I would say ‘good luck to them’.
“If they have found a way to beat the system and they can go out and spend this money. They haven’t broken any FFP rules, I would say ‘okay, maybe he is ahead of the game’. But I think there are just that many smart people within football. I can’t believe it just takes Todd Boehly, who has just come into the English game and he has, all of a sudden, found a way that no-one else has ever thought of.”
SPENDING ISN’T ALWAYS THE ANSWER
It’s perhaps what fans demand most from their team, and if there is a lack of it, then their team is probably accused of lacking ambition.
But, in recent times, Manchester United, Everton, even Villa to a certain extent, and now Chelsea have all splashed the cash, with most of them struggling.
Whilst Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool have still put cash on the table, it hasn’t been to the extent of others and it’s proof that getting the wallet out isn’t always the answer.
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