Arsene Wenger tells Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho to cope with City spending power

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Nick Purewal27 December 2017

Arsene Wenger has hinted Jose Mourinho should stop complaining about being unable to match Manchester City's spending power.

Arsenal boss Wenger has insisted he has "learned to cope" with battling richer rivals during his 21-years in charge of the Gunners.

A frustrated Mourinho reacted to Manchester United's 2-2 Old Trafford draw with Burnley by insisting the Red Devils must increase their spending to catch runaway leaders City.

United have spent roughly £286million since Mourinho took the Old Trafford helm in 2016, compared to City's £360million in the same time-frame.

When quizzed on Mourinho's comments, Wenger suggested his United counterpart may simply have to accept that his side cannot match City's riches.

"I have been in that position for 21 years so I can't start to complain now," said Wenger, of Mourinho's frustrations with Manchester City flexing their financial muscles.

"There have always been three or four teams richer than I am. I've learned to cope with that.

"We deal with our own situation as well as we can. Man City, Chelsea and Man United are all richer than us.

José Mourinho says Manchester United must spend more.

"You have to find ways to be successful."

United's Portuguese boss Mourinho reacted to his side's rallying draw with Burnley by insisting the Old Trafford club must increase their spending to return to the top of the world game.

A Jesse Lingard double salvaged a point for United, but an irked Mourinho later bemoaned City's free-spending approach, heaping pressure on his own club's board in the process.

"Manchester City buy full-backs for the price of strikers," said Mourinho. When it was pointed out that United have spent heavily during his Old Trafford tenure, Mourinho continued: "OK, (but) it is not enough."