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next year Arsenal will spend. That is only in this league.

“Then you have PSG and other big clubs. There are not that many great players around that can make a difference – that can go in a league and change it.

“You can count them on one hand. So big coaches are the ones who can make a difference in a club. And if I have to make a list of top managers, Antonio is certainly one of them. He is one of the big ones.”

Chelsea were 15 points clear of City last season but now trail by 22. Zola claimed his Blues are missing Diego Costa this season while Pep Guardiola has hugely improved the City defence.

But the Italian said: “People are saying that Manchester City will dominate for 10 years.

“As much as I love the way they play and the way Pep coaches his team, I don’t think it is going to be that easy to dominate the Premier League.

“It is not like the German or Italian league where you have one or two teams dominating.

“In this league there are five teams that can really do well.

“You think there are teams like Manchester United, who can spend money and they already have a good team.

“And then there is Chelsea, and so on...

“I think it is very difficult to say Manchester City are going to rule for 10 years.”