Cardiff City manager Malky Mackay has claimed that Tottenham Hotspur are a better team without Gareth Bale, ahead of Saturday's match between the two sides.
The North London side spent £100m on new players during the summer to offset the loss of the Welsh international, with Christian Eriksen, Erik Lamela, Roberto Soldado and Nacer Chadli among the new faces to arrive at White Hart Lane.
Mackay has said that Spurs boss Andre Villas-Boas has made several quality additions to his squad.
"The talk all summer was that the Bale deal was happening, but Spurs went out and brought all those players in and then eventually did the deal," Mackay told Sky Sports News.
"It looks to be very good business. Everyone knew in football that the players they brought in were top talents who were on the market. They were all going to cost quite a lot of money, but the extraordinary money that the Bale deal actually made for the club meant they were able to go and do that.
"It looks like a Champions League squad now, it is absolutely a match for the likes of Manchester United, Manchester City and Chelsea."
Tottenham currently sit third in the Premier League after four games.
Steven Toplis
