European clubs' money talks, says 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' semi-final 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 lineups 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.