Claudio Ranieri has again identified finance as a defining factor in English clubs' continued European success.
The Italian saw his Juventus team knocked out of the Champions League by Chelsea yesterday evening. Yet Ranieri believes only after Roma and Inter's results tonight, against Arsenal and Manchester United respectively, will there be a clear indication of where the power rests on the continent.
"It's difficult to say about the balance," he said. "Now it's important to see the other matches. Of course, I hope for good matches from the Italian teams."
If Arsenal and Manchester United do prevail that will be all four English clubs into the last eight of the European Cup once again. Can anything be done to stop this supremacy and is it boring?
"Boring, no. Because sooner or later the Italian teams will [close] this gap. Now the money is very important – for Spanish football and English football."
How can the gap to English clubs be closed again? "It's difficult to say. I hope it's very, very small. The money is very important."
Ahead of Chelsea's visit to Turin, Ranieri had described his former club as a war machine built on the billions of the club's owner, Roman Abramovich. So, is heavy financial investment for European clubs the only way to be powerful on the continent? "No, it's not only money. But the money is very important."
The Juventus manager will be rooting for Internazionale and Roma to fly the flag for Italian football tonight. Ranieri hopes his Serie A rivals can restore Italian pride by beating United and Arsenal respectively.
"It is very important for Italian football that they advance in the Champions League," he said. "It is the only way we can get back to having the best league in the world."
