Man City CEO Ferran Soriano says their success ISN'T down to money and targets rivals

Manchester City CEO Ferran Soriano has insisted the club's success is not solely down to their exorbitant spending on transfers and instead pointed the finger at Premier League rivals Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal.

City are rapidly closing in on winning a sensational treble this season after swatting aside Real Madrid to reach the Champions League final, and are also poised to defend their Premier League crown and face United with the FA Cup on the line.

With Pep Guardiola at the helm, the club have reached new heights and continued to build on the staggering progress made since their high-profile takeover in 2008.

However, City have been dogged by claims that they have only clinched silverware as a result of them splashing out on new signings, a suggestion Soriano refutes.

The club's achievements this year have also been overshadowed by the Premier League charging them with over 100 financial rule breaches across multiple seasons, although City have defended their actions and welcomed the probe.

And despite the raft of allegations, Soriano is adamant City have not overspent in comparison to several of their top-flight rivals.

Speaking after the 4-0 victory over Madrid and staunchly backing the club's recruitment process, Soriano told Movistar: 'Look, you only have to look at the investment in player in England in the last year, three years, five years.

'We are never the club spending the most on players.

'There are many other clubs investing more money than us - Chelsea, Manchester United, Arsenal.

'Saying that we've spent a lot of money and we won because of that is just not true.'

Indeed, figures compiled by Transfermarkt have revealed Chelsea are in fact the biggest spenders over the last decade, having spent an eye-watering £1.82billion.

In comparison, City have invested £1.5bn, with United trailing on £1.45bn.

Meanwhile, Soriano also reflected on the prospect of City finally lifting the Champions League trophy for the first time in their history.

'The Champions League is a bit symbolic,' he added.

'We work every day for the Premier League, it's a very difficult tournament to win. If we do it this year, it will be the third in a row, five in six years.

'From my experience, I know that you cannot base all your strategy on winning the Champions League, because it depends on the draw, a bad day… but yes, when we win it, which we will do one day, it will be something symbolic.'

As City push to end their lengthy drought, Jamie Carragher has laid down the gauntlet, claiming the club should not simply settle for a maiden title.

Instead, he believes they must target dominating in the competition.

'There's only one English team that's dominated Europe and that's Liverpool in the late 70s and early 80s,' Carragher said on CBS Sports Golazo.

'Man City are about to win a third league title on the trot, but nobody's ever done four, so they're up there with the absolute best.

'Manchester United won three in a row a couple of times, but they never dominated Europe - they won a Champions League, and City have still got to win the Champions League, but when you took at how good they could become, they should be looking at getting that first Champions League in a few weeks.

'But for the quality they have in terms of the manager, on the pitch and their finances - they can buy who they want virtually - they've got to be looking at trying to dominate Europe.'