Derek Fazackerley believes Sven Goran Eriksson would have already led Manchester City to the league title if he had stayed at Eastlands.
Former City coach Fazackerley is now back with Eriksson at Leicester City.
He said: "Given the resources that came into the club you would have to think, with Sven's past record, that he could by now have qualified for the Champions League at least.
"As for winning things, well it certainly would have happened eventually, whether any quicker or slower who is to say?
"But the thing that slows a club down is if they make too many changes. Sven would have had a bit more continuity,. He'd already had the opportunity of working with the players for 12 months.
"Instead, he goes and Mark Hughes comes in and needs six months to look at the players."