Queens Park Rangers manager Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink believes Newcastle United’s financial muscle makes it very hard for a side like his to compete on a level playing field.
The Dutch boss was speaking to reporters after QPR suffered a heavy 6-0 defeat at the hands of the Magpies last night. Newcastle manager Rafa Benitez spent £56m on 12 players in the summer, although their net spend was £30m in profit after the sales of Moussa Sissoko, Georginio Wijnaldum and Daryl Janmaat for a combined £62million. Yet, Hasselbaink is quoted by the Evening Chronicle as saying Newcastle’s signings meant they are on a different level to other Championship clubs:
“Newcastle have Mitrovic who has cost millions, Shelvey who cost £12million, Ritchie who cost £10m – shall I go on? Newcastle are a great team with great players. They looked a proper team. It went totally wrong for us, and very well for Newcastle. It was easy for them to get the ball behind us.”
It wasn’t long ago that QPR owner Tony Fernandes was spending millions on players in the Premier League but since being relegated to the Championship, the London club have tightened their purse string with Hasselbaink’s most expensive signing being Idrissa Sylla from Anderlecht for £2.5m this summer.
