Notts County chief Sven Goran Eriksson says the emergence of Manchester City is a great fillip for the game.

Eriksson remains popular with City fans, however, after he became their first manager since 1969-70 to win both league derby games against Manchester United - and also achieved the joint highest Premier League points total in the club's history.

Eriksson added: "I think it's good for the game that you can now see, quite early on, that we have now five teams who will fight for the Champions League places.

"Now it's Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal, Liverpool - and City. It's the top five, not the top four. That's good for football. I'm very happy for the fans of Manchester City.

"My role as Manchester City manager was different to being manager of clubs in other countries.

"You share responsibility more in other European countries.

"You have the last word, though, in who to buy and who plays and things like that.

"But you work with a sporting director or a chairman more, on a day-to-day basis, more than I did for Manchester City."