Jose Mourinho has claimed Manchester United no longer dominate English football because they cannot now buy the best players from other Premier League clubs.
Top flight clubs banked £1.6bn from TV and prize money with even bottom club Aston Villa getting £66m. That money is set to be doubled when new TV deals kick in next season.
Since Sir Alex Ferguson won the title in his final season in 2012/13, the Reds have twice failed to finish in the top four.
Mourinho told France Football: “I arrived at Manchester United at a difficult time. But it was the same for David Moyes and Louis Van Gaal. The period which followed the departure of Sir Alex was difficult to manage for the club, and not only because of his departure.
“It is also a new era for English football. A period where economic power has become so big that it is becoming scary for everyone. Because this economic power is not concentrated in two clubs, like in Spain, or on only one, like Germany.
“In England, it is spread out. Of course, there are clubs more powerful than others and the expectations that go with them.
“But here, everyone is powerful now. The scene has changed. If I want to buy a Tottenham player, I cannot. Nor a Manchester City player or a player from Arsenal.
“It was not the case before. At Chelsea, I signed Shaun Wright-Phillips, who was the best player at Manchester City or Ashley Cole from Arsenal. Sir Alex, when he wanted the best Tottenham player, he bought Michael Carrick and then (Dimitar) Berbatov.”
Mourinho said this was why Premier League clubs now have to look increasingly abroad for players.
“In England, clubs are so economically powerful that the market is open to everyone.
“Take the example of Bayern in Germany. You know when they start to win the title every year? When, the summer before, they buy the best Borussia Dortmund player. Götze, then Lewandowski the following year, then Hummels last year.
“Me, I arrive at a club that has a big and prestigious history, but that can no longer be written in the same way. No club in England, whether it’s Manchester United, Liverpool, Manchester City, can no longer be dominant permanently. Power has divided. Everything is more difficult: buy, win, build.”