Blanc, the Bordeaux manager and former Manchester United defender, provided a fascinating insight into the way English football is perceived abroad ahead of tomorrow's Champions League game against Chelsea.

He believes even the continental giants in Spain and Italy will struggle to halt the growing dominance of English football, with more and more clubs now backed by wealthy new owners.

But Blanc also highlighted the stark negatives - both for the England national team and for the role of the manager in the game.

Kevin Keegan and Alan Curbishley resigned from their respective clubs over the last fortnight in protest at board interference in transfers.

The fans' reaction to Keegan's departure from Newcastle has prompted owner Mike Ashley to put the club up for sale.

West Ham, meanwhile, have appointed a new manager in Gianfranco Zola who is happy to work under a technical director.

Blanc said: "English teams are ruling Europe at the moment. Not only are they the best on the field but financially also.

"There is great potential for English football to carry on dominating and it is hard to see who will stop that. It really is the most powerful country.

"Maybe the English national team has suffered by the influence of foreign players.

"England would be a dream destination for a manager or a coach - but I would add a rider to that.

"With all these foreign owners you are maybe getting into a situation here where managers are becoming like puppets and not pulling the strings, when the owners are."

Blanc's Bordeaux face Chelsea at Stamford Bridge tomorrow, a club he last came across while playing for Manchester United at the start of the Roman Abramovich era.

Blanc is impressed with the swift developments Chelsea have made - but he still believes their new money attitude cannot compete with the grand traditions of clubs like United.

"In terms of trophies there is not much between Chelsea and Manchester United but the spirit of the clubs are different," said Blanc.

"Chelsea have become a massive club over a short dynamic period where they have been buying players and building a team in a rapid fashion.

"Manchester United have had the same manager for years and that bring with it a very important amount of stability." Nevertheless, Blanc is acutely aware how dangerous Chelsea will be tomorrow night.

"If I had studied all their good points I would not have had any sleep last night because there are so many of them," he joked.

"When you look at the strength in depth of their squad they are far and away the favourites to win the group.

"We sweated blood to reach this competition and we are not just here to make up the numbers.

"If we thought we were coming here for no reason we would have gone shopping and then gone home without playing a game. We are not here for that."