Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has hit out at clubs that spend beyond their means, and insists he will not spend recklessly in a bid to end a near six-year trophy drought.
The Frenchman has relied on bringing through young players in recent years instead of splashing the cash, and that approach has led to some criticism as the Gunners have failed to lift any major silverware since the 2005 FA Cup final.
But Wenger insists he is not willing to change his philosophy and that the club’s long-term future must be secure.
When asked why the Gunners no longer spend large amounts of cash during transfer windows, he told Al Jazeera: “Because we respect our budget.
“You look at the clubs who lose £100m or £150m and if we do that then we go bust. It's as simple as that. We pay what we can afford.
“I'm amazed that people are amazed that we do that. I think what is surprising is that people don't respect that.
“If I tell you we can win two more points but we lose £150m, what will you say? Win two more points. But when I ask a second question, where do we get the £150m in? Maybe you don't have the same answer.
“The beauty of the competition and this club is to be successful while respecting the balance and the funds of financial balance and all the rest for me doesn't look normal.
“People will maybe realise one day that it's not as easy to stay at the top and as well to cope with financial compulsories that you have at the top.
“We face rivals who do not respect the financial fair play. Instead, of us being accused, maybe people should look somewhere else.”