Manchester City chief claims money isn't the reason for club's success and aims dig at rivals

Manchester City chief Ferran Soriano isn't impressed that people think Manchester City's success is all down to money, taking shots at the club's rivals.

On Wednesday night City took a huge step towards completing the Treble this season as they dismantled Real Madrid in the Champions League to book their place in the final.

Pep Guardiola's team could complete the first prong of the trident of trophies without even playing if Arsenal lose to Nottingham Forest on Saturday.

If not then they'll win it by defeating City on Sunday or one of their next two games following that, basically they're guaranteed the Premier League title no matter what.

After that they'll have to defeat rivals Manchester United in order to win the FA Cup, in the first ever Manchester derby in a major final.

United fans are already concerned that they're going to get utterly embarrassed by their 'noisy neighbours' at Wembley, having seen what they did to Real.

Lots of fans from other clubs were pointing out the money spent by City to get themselves into the position they're currently in, on the cusp of history.

The club's CEO Soriano disputes the idea that their cash is the only reason that they're about to win their third league in-a-row and fifth in six years.

"Look, you only have to look at the investment in players in England in the last year, three years, five years… we are never the club spending the most on players," Soriano argued whilst speaking to Spanish outlet Movistar.

"There are many other clubs investing more money than us – Chelsea, Manchester United, Arsenal.

"Saying that we’ve spent a lot of money and we won because of that is just not true."

Jack Grealish cost the club £100 million. Image: Alamy

Whilst other clubs have spent more than Guardiola's in recent years only Chelsea have actually spent more than them in the previous decade.

The club have spent £1.2 billion on players including breaking several transfer records like making Kyle Walker then the most expensive defender and Jack Grealish the most expensive British transfer, until Enzo Fernandez signed for Chelsea.

Opposition fans have also been busy pointing out the fact the club are currently being investigated for over 100 charges of alleged breaches of the Premier League's financial rules.

UEFA have also tried to punish them over similar alleged rule breaking in recent years but the ban was overturned by the Court for Arbitration of Sport.

Of course Soriano does have a point when it comes to Chelsea, with the Blues having a shocking season despite spending around £600 million since the start of the campaign.