It is the common belief in the money-driven, modern day football: if you want to enjoy success, you must spend big.
Manchester City is one of the best examples of this idealogy in Europe, with the club enjoying one of its most successful spells in history after the take over in 2008 by Abu Dhabi United Group Investment and Development Limited, led by the mega-rich Sheikh Mansour.
However, this season's surprise package Leicester City look to throw this belief out the window as their budget squad looks to shock everyone and win the league crown.
Although none could have predicted this, the Foxes lifting the English Premier League is no longer a far-fetched idea, as they sit on top of the table, three points ahead of the Citizens.
With the two sides locking horns in Saturday's early kick-off, we take a look at the difference in spending power and finances of England's first and second-placed teams.
Starting lineup: £235m vs. £23m
In order to get a clear image of the gap between the financial strength of Saturday’s opponents, you need not to look any further than the cost of their starting eleven.
Whilst Leicester’s lineup is one to admire, their impressive squad was build on a £22.9m budget, with the key focus talented bargain buys, one which would even have Arsene Wenger envious.
Man City’s probable lineup, on the other hand, cost the club £234.5m, a testimony to the club’s spending power. This means that on Saturday, Ranieri could field a starting XI that cost 10% of the cost of Pellegrini’s star-studded ensemble.
Probable lineups
Man City: Joe Hart (£1.5m), Bacary Sagna (free), Nicolas Otamendi (£28.5m), Martin Demichelis (£4m), Gael Clichy (£7m), Fernando (£14.5m), Fernandinho (£33m), Yaya Toure (£25m), David Silva (£24m), Raheem Sterling (£49m), Sergio Aguero (£38m)
TOTAL: £234.5m
Leicester City: Kasper Schmeichel (£1m), Danny Simpson (£2m), Wes Morgan (£1m), Robert Huth (£3m), Christian Fuchs (free), Danny Drinkwater (£600,000), N'Golo Kante (£5.6m), Marc Albrighton (free), Riyad Mahrez (£1.5m), Jamie Vardy (£1m), Shinji Okazaki (£7.2m)
TOTAL: £22.9m
Vardy tops the goalscorers chart despite only costing £1m
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Posted by LiveSoccerTV.com on Thursday, February 4, 2016
Player wages
Maintaining a stable lineup season in and season out requires a sufficient amount of wage for the players, and in Man City, lucrative salaries are in abundance.
The Capital One Cup finalists fork out £215m in squad wages, almost four times the £55m Leicester City pay their overachievers. However, should Vardy and Co. win the league crown, a pay rise is expected for several key players.
Fans have their say: Aguero or Vardy?
A look at the two clubs’ owners tells a very similar story, with Man City’s Sheikh Mansour worth an estimated £17bn, whilst Foxes owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha is worth £1.5bn.
Club revenue
Given that the King Power Stadium’s capacity is 32, 262, compared to the Etihad Stadium’s 54, 523-seat ground, Leicester’s revenues pales in comparison to that of the Citizens.
Last season, Man City racked in £355.1m worth of revenue, more than three times the £105.1m the Foxes made.
Of course, last season’s round of 32 finish in the Champions League and their League Cup, FA Cup, Community Shield, and two Premier League titles since 2011 going the distance.
Leicester, however, last won silverware in 2000 when they clinched the League Cup. In addition, they have never won an English Premier League title, finishing 2nd in the league back 1929.
Match details, result and original broadcast info
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