Chelsea legend Gianfranco Zola feels the quality of the manager is becoming more and more important in the Premier League.

Zola, who has managed West Ham, Watford and Birmingham, claimed the role of the coach is increasingly important in the Premier League.

“If you want to be competitive, spending is not enough anymore," said the 51-year-old, who now works for Sky Italia.

“Not only are Chelsea spending now. City are spending, United are spending, I think 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 I have to make a list of top managers, Antonio is certainly one of them. He is one of the big ones."