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Bayern Munich sporting director Christian Nerlinger has candidly spoken out against the financial policies of Manchester City and Chelsea, comparing their owners to children.
Speaking with a select group of Indian media representatives, including Goal.com, the retired Germany international slammed the English duo, asserting that his side - as well as Manchester United and Barcelona - have a more capable model.
The former Borussia Dortmund midfielder admitted that his current club have had difficulty in seasons following major international tournaments, but asserted they will nonetheless stick with their conservative economic philosophy after Euro 2012.
Yes, of course we thought about it because the last three or four years after big tournaments, we had a problem," he said. "But always it’s about philosophy and we don’t want the Manchester City model.
"We don’t want 22 world class players and a balance sheet that is growing and growing and growing. We want to have players that have a perspective so that they can play on a regular basis. It’s always about finding the right structure in the squad and we are, of course, thinking about that."

Nerlinger went on to assert that the Citizens, as well as Chelsea, lack finesse in the transfer market, and noted that to date, neither have been successful in achieving their goals.
"I think nowadays there is no patience in football," he explained. "If [Chelsea owner Roman] Abramovich spends €100 million a year, of course he wants to win the Champions League, but it’s not about calculation. Football is different; there are many elements in building a team.
"The example of Chelsea, in my eyes, shows that it’s not about spending hundreds of millions so that you can win the title or the European title. It’s more than that."

According to Nerlinger, Abramovich and City owner Sheikh Mansour are much like young children in their transfer policies, and take the wrong approach in managing their respective clubs.
"If you see what happened to Chelsea, what’s going on with Man City, they are at a stage where they are willing to spend to be number one not only in their domestic league but also in the Champions League. Of course, this is against economic sensibility. I have three sons – four years, two years and seven weeks. And they like to play with toys.
"We need to make sure that one can't play with football clubs, that one really takes it seriously and that there are certain rules to respect."
It is Nerlinger's hope that Financial Fair Play will curb the transfer activities of spendthrift clubs, and that his team's conservative financial policy will see the Bavarians re-emerge as a global superpower.
"I am not sure of Financial Fair Play but I hope it will take effect. Bayern Munich's philosophy in the last 20 years has been profitable. This will also come into play and then all together, as a club, we will play an important role.

The 38-year-old feels that, while his side could pull off a blockbuster transfer, such a move would oppose their philosophy. Instead, he is confident the Bavarians will achieve their goals while sticking to their values.
"We could, perhaps, spend €50m for a player. But we will never do it. Even if the pressure from others is very high, we would never spend €50m for one player because in the last 30 years, we showed that economic balance is something that is very important for us as well. In the long term also, it will be very successful."
According to Nerlinger, Bayern are not the only side deserving of respect: he cited Manchester United and Barcelona in particular as examples of sides that have come to power with use of more than just finances.
"Sir Alex Ferguson has done a fantastic job at Manchester United over the years. There have been some small dips but he established this club as a brand and as a world-class football team, and his philosophy was about developing a team."

The Bayern chief also praised Barcelona for cultivating many of their own stars, hailing their current 'golden generation'.
"I think Barcelona, are a team, and they're about players that come once in a century. So with Xavi, [Andres] Iniesta, [Lionel] Messi – this is a golden age.
"Of course, they have the right philosophy. They educate and develop the players and it seems at the moment, that Barcelona have the right sporting model."
Finally, Nerlinger hailed his club's family-friendly atmosphere and stadium atmosphere, while also taking a swipe at Italian fan culture.
"For six years, every single game has been sold out. We have families coming to the stadium. It’s not about what it is in Italy - about violence. We have a supportive atmosphere at the stadium which is unique worldwide."

Bayern are the German version of the rags (and not just in name).
They've spent years stealing the best players from lower teams. The guy sounds like a knob to be honest.

This stuff coming from Bayern could be very harmful to us. BE WARNED.

Whatever they may be doing on the pitch, they are moving in very very high circles in the corridors of World football politics. Bayern not only gave access to the top table, they have a dedicated policy to seek to increase their power. This blokes boss, Rumminigge is no friend of City, as we have seen but he wields a massive amount of power within the ECA and is ambitious.

They see us as a threat to the old order and would seek to crush us before we get too big for our boots. Forget Sky and the media, Forget their tinpot pundits, Forget all else...but never forget these guys.

Fick them

Lets invade Poland and see what they do

This makes my blood boil. Sorry Fritz, but your plans for a thousand year Reich with Bayern, the Red Filth, and Barca cemented into the position are under serious threat. We are the boys who will stop your little game, we are the boys who will make you think again!

John, assuming our owners have a little more nous and integrity than a child with a toy, I would suggest that it is they who not only should be, but are clearly worried. I know what you mean about them shifting the goal posts to try and screw us re "'fair' play"- do you have any other info, or it just you being suspicious of these scumbags?

I honestly don't get how these FFP rules seem to favour the loading a club with debt model over our owner injecting no strings attached cash into it.

Obviously if the Sheikh pulled the plug tomorrow and our operating costs dwarfed our income then it would present us with a serious short term problem but nothing that couldn't be overcome over the mid to long term with asset trimming and securing some debt of our own.

If on the other hand the scum on failed to qualify for the Champions league for a couple of years I'd imagine there would be serious financial implications that would involve player sales and the like but with the banks still wanting their money this model wouldn't take long to fall apart would it?

I think Sorted makes an excellent point Tony, you're well out of order.

It doth maketh me smile when I hear shite like this. We have only spent money during the last few years in order to hang on to the coat-tails of these fuclers as their cosy little cabal had already instigated and executed a model which was designed in the very first instance to keep also rans out of sight and out of mind while their nice cozy little earner huddled up to UEFA, G14 and innumerate global corporate sponsors feathered their nests to the detriment of those trapped further down the foodchain.

I spurn these types as I would spurn a rabid dog

Absolutely stupid posturing from Nerlinger, his arguments are untenable. He would be slapped down easily in an open debate. He just needs a good slap....

We will bite them on the features. We will never, surrender.

Bayern are fucking stalkers.

Goataldo wrote:I think Sorted makes an excellent point Tony, you're well out of order.

LOL, it had me for a split second too fella.

john68 wrote:This stuff coming from Bayern could be very harmful to us. BE WARNED.

Whatever they may be doing on the pitch, they are moving in very very high circles in the corridors of World football politics. Bayern not only gave access to the top table, they have a dedicated policy to seek to increase their power. This blokes boss, Rumminigge is no friend of City, as we have seen but he wields a massive amount of power within the ECA and is ambitious.

They see us as a threat to the old order and would seek to crush us before we get too big for our boots. Forget Sky and the media, Forget their tinpot pundits, Forget all else...but never forget these guys.

John do you really believe the likes of these have the power to say ok City you have won the league but you cannot enter the CL because you are not making enough money?

Gillie,

I would go further than that Mate. These guys have the power to say...Fuck your Champions League, It is we big clubs that attract the TV audiences and the revenue which keeps the whole thing afloat...So fuck the rest of you. We are setting up our own league, we have got the major global TV companies and major multiglobal industrial and financial giants as sponsors. We will be a multi billion dollar market and we will earn more money than you could ever dream of....THEY HAVE THAT POWER.

Furthermore...and more importantly, they also have the power to say..."...and we are keeping the fucking lot and not sharing a penny with you....and it is a private club...you are not invited.

john68 wrote:Gillie,

I would go further than that Mate. These guys have the power to say...Fuck your Champions League, It is we big clubs that attract the TV audiences and the revenue which keeps the whole thing afloat...So fuck the rest of you. We are setting up our own league, we have got the major global TV companies and major multiglobal industrial and financial giants as sponsors. We will be a multi billion dollar market and we will earn more money than you could ever dream of....THEY HAVE THAT POWER.

Furthermore...and more importantly, they also have the power to say..."...and we are keeping the fucking lot and not sharing a penny with you....and it is a private club...you are not invited.

And our Sheik and his pals have even bigger power to do their own competition as well.... Dont rule it out if it gets messy !!

Carl,
I don't doubt that City would try and make a fight of it. There is too much money involved for them not to. Iam referring to what is happening behind the scenes at the moment and where those in power at present would like to take football for their own ends.

I beleive the ECA will eventually control UeFA under Rumminigge and with Platini firmly in their pockets, replace Blatter with him. The old G14 group will then be effectively in control of football.

These guys are not idiots, they will ensure that the poor clubs will get their little slice to keep them from causing problems. Then they will get on with what they are really ABOUT...MAKING MONEY.

john68 wrote:Carl,
I don't doubt that City would try and make a fight of it. There is too much money involved for them not to. Iam referring to what is happening behind the scenes at the moment and where those in power at present would like to take football for their own ends.

I beleive the ECA will eventually control UeFA under Rumminigge and with Platini firmly in their pockets, replace Blatter with him. The old G14 group will then be effectively in control of football.

These guys are not idiots, they will ensure that the poor clubs will get their little slice to keep them from causing problems. Then they will get on with what they are really ABOUT...MAKING MONEY.

The Germans shouldn't be allowed to control jack shit...ever.....and I dont think they will...with or without Rumminigges help.

The cheek of these clubs, particularly Bayern makes my blood boil.
They altered the whole structure of football, destroying European competition and domestic leagues across the continent in the process, and then they berate us for buying a few decent players to compete.
I hate these G14 bastards with a passion. John is right to say we need to be cautious about them, they are capable of all sorts to try and keep their power and money.

Thanks Piccs,
Some years ago when I 1st read about the changes from the European Cup into the Champions League and understood the full implications of those changes, three things horrified me.
1...The ease of which a tiny group of clubs could exert control of UeFA for their own ends.
2...The fact that the implications of these changes had largely gone unreported (or criticised) in the popular media and press.
3...That despite these changes damaging the interests of the vast majority of other clubs, some of whom had been major players on the European stage, those other clubs had remained silent.

When you look at the amount of financial payouts to those elite clubs over the years since those changes, it becomes self explanatory why these clubs have dominated both European and their own domestic competitions and the financial gap between them and their rivals has grown to such an extent that other clubs are unable to compete.

There are clubs that did try to bridge that gap. In England we had Leeds but their attempt almost cost them their club. Chelsea, pre Abramovich also tried and they too almost went to the wall. This scenario was replicated in clubs all over Europe. All of those clubs were blamed by official bodies and the media of bad financial management.

The gap between the elite and the rest of the European clubs has widened sufficiently to make it impossible for any club (outside the elite) to compete. European football for most clubs was simply written off without a whimper.

I have wanted to start a thread for some time on this subject buit the difficulties of doing so have been the sheer size and complexity of the issue and where to start. I suppose that it will have to be done sometime and in instalments.

I must make it clear that when I say compete, I mean financially rather thanon the pitch. One largely rules the other but this is not about trophies, it is about finance.