Manchester City boss Sven Goran Eriksson insists his summer transfer budget won't be decided by whether they clinch European football qualification.

"I don't think that our league position this season will affect what I have to spend in future," Eriksson said. "Dr Thaksin's plans for City to be an even bigger club do not depend on the UEFA Cup next season.

"But in the future, I am quite sure the plans include playing in Europe and winning games in Europe.

"It is a three-year project at least. He has never said by what date he wants to have the best team in the world! "What is important in the next 10 games is that we follow through what we started earlier in the season and continue to fight right to the end.

"We must not waste the hard work that we have put in."