*All times CAT (GMT+2)

Football | International

Victor Vucetich © Action Images

Euro clubs' money talks - Monterrey coach



Monterrey's coach said on Thursday the wages on offer at European clubs meant it was difficult for teams from other regions to win the Club World Cup after the Mexicans' semifinal loss to Chelsea.

Monterrey were bidding to become the first Concacaf champions to reach the final of the intercontinental tournament but they were outclassed and outfought 3-1 by a Chelsea team compiled of multi-million-pound stars.

Victor Vucetich said the reason that the last five Club World Cup winners had come from Europe was because of a massive gulf in wages between teams there and sides from South, Central and North America.

"The talent is very close but European football is the best level in the world and also the players there are getting paid a lot," Vucetich said.

"That's why they get great players in terms of physical and mental strength and techniques.

"Clubs such as Chelsea, Manchester United, Barcelona, they have line-ups of great players from all over the world. That's the difference between their teams and the rest of the world."

Vucetich added that the way for teams from the Americas to attract the world's best players was by improving the standard of the game in their domestic leagues.

"South American and North American football can improve a lot," he said.

"By improving I think we can also attract great players and that's the way we can eliminate the differences between the continents."

Monterrey will play Egypt's Al Ahly in a third place playoff on Sunday before Chelsea take on South American champions Corinthians in the final.

Barcelona have won two of the last five Club World Cups, with Manchester United, Inter Milan and AC Milan being the other three. The last time a South American team won was in 2006 when Internacional triumphed.

No side from outside Europe or South America has ever won the premier club event.

Shop

Gerrard: My Autobiography
Steven Gerrard is a hero to millions, not only as the inspirational captain of Liverpool FC, but as a key member of the England team.
R118.00
Red: My autobiography
No player has been more synonymous with the glory years of Manchester United Football Club over the past two decades than right-back Gary Neville.
R194.00
The Professor: Arsene Wenger
Idealistic, passionate and scientific, Arsene Wenger led the modernisation of English football
R138.00
FIFA 13
All-new Attacking Intelligence infuses players with the most sophisticated artificial intelligence ever achieved
R341.95


Comments

Sports Talk



Collins Okinyo
Ethiopia are an example
Many pundits may have known Ethiopia for its prowess in athletics rather than football. Yet they...

Sunday Oliseh
South Africa's only solution
In 1996, the world was graced with the emergence of a colourful and flair-filled footballing...

Segun Odegbami
Nigeria, Tahiti played like schoolboys
I needed to watch a few games before making any analytical comments about the Confed Cup. II needed...

Richard Owubokiri
Let the dress rehearsal begin
We are hours away from the start of what will be a perfect dress rehearsal for the Brazil 2014 Fifa...

Dr Errol Sweeney
Well done PSL - thuggery must stop
The hefty bans imposed on a soccer player and the chairman of an NFD club by the Disciplinary...

Clyde Tlou
Let Ronaldo go
This soap opera of Cristiano Ronaldo wanting to leave Real Madrid is turning into a monotonous tale...