Antonio Conte believes it is inevitable that Manchester City will dominate English football given their ambition and spending power.
And the Chelsea boss appeared to aim a dig at his own club on the issue of ambition when asked about it at a press conference on Friday afternoon.
“The club has to show ambition, not the coach,” Conte said. “The coach has to work every day, to try to work very hard.”
Chelsea face runaway Premier League leaders City at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday, having slipped out of the top four places.
They face a tough task against a City side that has been outstanding this season won 3-0 at Arsenal this week.
“We must have great admiration for this team because they are doing and having a fantastic path in the season,” Conte said.
“When you work very well and there is a great feeling between the manager and the club you can work in the way that you want.
“Manchester City has the possibility to spend a lot of money and when you link the two situations – a good manager and much money to spend in the transfer market – and the same ambition, then this is the final result.”