[nffc]

Man U have bought things though.

Transfer expenses:
2004-5 20m (one player!)
2003-4 52.7m
2002-3 31.5m (2 players)
2001-2 22m (3 players)
1999-2000 10m
1998-99 4.4m
1997-98 15.75m (2 players)
1996-97 3.5m (1 player)

Taking into account that's likely to cover the bulk of the team that's a total of... 160m- not including players signed before 1996 (eg Keane 3.5m)

Chelsea have basically built their side over 2 seasons, spending just over 200m. That's not much more. And they don't have the advantage of a good academy, although they have invested in that as well. What they have done, is bought British and Irish though (Duff, Cole, Johnson, Parker, Lampard for example). They've also spent wisely unlike the extortionate sums Munich have spent on crap like Taibi, Silvestre etc etc.

All Chelsea have done is taken two seasons to build a side other teams have taken a bit longer to do. In fact, it's a miracle it's all gelled so quickly.