‘Spending criticism motivates City players’

(08-10-2010) All the criticism and jibing about Manchester City’s big-spending is motivating the club’s star-studded squad to succeed, claims defender Joleon Lescott. The Eastlands club have spent an astonishing £326m on players since their takeover by Sheikh Mansour two years ago. "We're all dedicated, and we're also using as fuel the fact that people from outside the club don't want us to succeed," Lescott told the club's website mcfc.co.uk on Thursday. "Everyone was crying out for so long for someone to break into the top four. We're doing it, but somehow it's like 'you're doing it the wrong way'. We just have to take it with a pinch of salt and repay the people who showed faith in us." City currently lie second on the EPL standings after an impressive start to the season. Lescott joined City from Everton for £24m in August 2009.