Pep Guardiola has defended Manchester City's huge spending in the transfer market and says the club has earned the right to be regarded among Europe's elite.
City's finances have been under the microscope of late, with the club winning a Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) appeal on Monday to overturn a two-year ban from UEFA competition for allegedly breaching Financial Fair Play rules.
Despite the club spending nearly £2 billion ($2.5bn) on transfers in the past 20 years, Guardiola feels City's rise to success mirrors that of Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea.